Dr Naeem Uz Zafar, the chief statistician of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), has stated that the population of Karachi may not necessarily show as 30 million after the ongoing country’s seventh population and house count. Dr Zafar made this statement during a press briefing at the Provincial Census Coordination Centre in Karachi on Saturday. He mentioned that about 60% of Pakistan has been enumerated so far, and this is the first time that Pakistan is conducting a digital census.

Concerns were raised by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) over the population count in Karachi, with Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari even threatening to quit the ruling alliance. Dr Zafar shared that 140 million people and 40 million houses have been counted and geo-tagged so far, with 9.7 million houses geo-tagged in Sindh and 8.5 million people enumerated in Karachi. He added that this census is mandatory, and it is the responsibility of the government to make the best use of the data gathered.

Dr Zafar assured that everyone, including hotels, schools, madrasas, jails, mosques, shops, and all other spaces, would be counted and geo-tagged in the census, and it would continue until April 4. For mapping and security purposes, the PBS has secured the services of the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission, National Database and Registration Authority, and National Technology Council. Despite concerns raised by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Dr Zafar believes that the ongoing census is a valuable exercise that will provide a treasure trove of data for the government to use.