The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) unveiled the official results of the country’s seventh and first-ever digital census on Monday, revealing that Karachi’s population has reached a staggering 20.3 million, marking an increase of 4.3 million over the past five years.
The comprehensive data collection covered all seven districts of Karachi, with District East emerging as the most densely populated, boasting a figure of approximately 3.9 million. Following closely, District Central tallied around 3.8 million, Korangi at 3.1 million, District West at 2.6 million, Malir at 2.4 million, District South at 2.3 million, and Keamari at a slightly over 2 million.
The newly released census data further reveals that the population of Sindh province totals 55.69 million. Within this, the Hyderabad Division accommodates over 10.16 million, Larkana Division comprises nearly 7.1 million, Mirpurkhas Division holds 4.6 million, Shaheed Benazirabad houses 5.9 million, while Sukkur caters to 6.1 million residents.
The extensive data collection and analysis have led to Pakistan’s overall population, as per PBS census data of 2023, soaring to a substantial 241.49 million, showcasing a growth rate of 2.55%.
This significant revelation follows the approval of census results by the Council of Common Interest (CCI) during its 50th meeting, led by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif. The seventh population and housing census, initiated on March 1, 2023, diligently accounted for 241.49 million individuals across Pakistan, with a growth rate of 2.55%.
An official statement highlighted that the pioneering achievement of conducting Pakistan’s first-ever digital census was accomplished by the PBS and stakeholders, who successfully undertook the task within "challenging timelines”. Furthermore, the statement emphasized that the comprehensive digital census marked a historic milestone, being the "largest” digitization endeavor in South Asia, achieved in a remarkably short span of just 18 months.
One of the standout features of this census is the geo-tagging of all structures across Pakistan, contributing to the creation of an economic framework to determine the extent of economic clusters nationwide.
The unveiling of Karachi’s burgeoning population through Pakistan’s inaugural digital census underscores the nation’s commitment to modern data collection methods and technological advancement, providing a robust foundation for future socio-economic planning and development.
