AsiaNet-Pakistan Premier Editorial Content and Press Release Distribution Service
Islamabad: The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) is gearing up for the 7th Agricultural Census, starting with field staff training and awareness workshops in Gilgit. The initiative, launched on September 2, 2024, in collaboration with the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan, aims to enhance the accuracy and effectiveness of agricultural data collection across Pakistan.
According to Press Information Department, the event in Gilgit marks the fifth awareness-building workshop for the upcoming census. It was inaugurated by Mr. Hussain Shah, Minister of Irrigation and Water Management of Gilgit-Baltistan. The workshop is part of a broader national effort to prepare for the first-ever Integrated Digital Count of the agricultural sector in Pakistan. Mr. Ayazauddin, Member (Census and Surveys) of PBS, emphasized the critical role of precise data in shaping agricultural policy and planning during his opening remarks.
Mr. Muhammad Sarwar Gondal (SI), Member (Support Services/Resource Management) at PBS, detailed the significant impact expected from the census. He noted that agriculture accounts for 24% of Pakistan’s GDP and employs 37% of the workforce. Gondal also discussed the success of integrating census and administrative data during Pakistan’s COVID-19 smart lockdown, illustrating the potential benefits of evidence-based policy making. Further, he outlined the use of digital tools in census operations and the extensive logistical network that spans all 157 districts of the country.
Mr. Hussain Shah praised the PBS for their meticulous preparation and stressed the importance of the census for strategic agricultural planning and resource optimization. He also inaugurated a three-day training session for field staff in Gilgit, focusing on standardized data collection techniques through practical exercises and interactive sessions. This training aims to ensure the reliability and quality of the data collected during the census.
The field operations for the census are scheduled to commence on September 15, 2024, and will continue through October 2024, covering Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and other regions. This extensive data collection effort is expected to provide a robust foundation for informed decision-making in Pakistan’s agricultural sector.
The post Pakistan Prepares for 7th Agricultural Census with Training and Workshops in Gilgit appeared first on pakistannewsgazette.com.