Production of Gender Statistics in Pakistan

1. Production of Gender Statistics in Pakistan Muhammad Saeed Census Commissioner Population Census Organization Statistics Division

2. History of Data Collection • The history of collection and availability of population data by gender in Pakistan dates back to 1881 when the first regular decennial population censuses was conducted in the South Asian sub-continent. • There after regular decennial population censuses were carried out in the year ending at one. After inception of Pakistan five population censuses have been conducted till 1998. • The demand and use of gender disaggregated data emerged when its needs was realized for systematic demographic, health, social and economic assessments. • More specifically the need for statistics by gender classification has emerged with the global interest on the situation of women to improve their status and their economic, social and political contributions.

3. Requirements for Gender Statistics • All statistics on individuals should be collected, collated and presented disaggregated by sex. • All variables and characteristics should be presented with sex as a primary and overall classification. • Specific efforts should be made to identify gender issues and provide data that address these issues. • Formulation of concepts and definitions used in data collection that adequately reflect the diversity of women and men and capture all aspects of their lives. • Development of data collection methods that take into account stereotypes and social and cultural factors that might produce gender biases .

4. Concept of Gender Statistics • Most of the data that appear in publications on gender statistics are obtained by conventional data collection methods which, by and large, remain gender blind. • Concept of engendering national statistical systems changes from conventional approach to gender statistics in two ways: • It is realized that merely disaggregating data by sex is insufficient and requires thorough review of the data collection framework and process from gender perspective. • A systematic and comprehensive approach should be used to identify gender issues and provide data that genuinely addresses women’s needs. Priorities must focus on economic statistics.

5. Need for Gender Statistics • The need for gender statistics has been realized to facilitate producing, processing and disseminating gender statistics for formulation and monitoring of social sector projects with a focus on Women in Development (WID). In this regards the government has taken the following initiatives: • Social Action Programme was introduced in 1993 aimed at accelerating the pace of social development with a focus on women issues (primary education, health, water supply and sanitation) • Ninth five year plan (1993-1998) focused on poverty reduction and gender equality. • Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) prepared under Ministry of Finance to initiate development programmes. • Implementation of the National Plan of Action (NPA) by Ministry of Women Development.

6. Sources of Gender Statistics (A) Regular Censuses/Surveys • Population Censuses conducted in 1951, 1961, 1972, 1981 and 1998 (PCO). • Pakistan Demographic Survey (1980-2005) conducted annually by FBS. • Labour Force Survey (1963-2006) Annual (FBS). • Pakistan Social & Living Standards Measurement Survey (2001-2005) Annual (FBS).

7. (B) Adhoc Survey / Other Sources • Demographic & Health Survey/Reproductive Health Family Planning Survey – NIPS • National Education Management Information System (Ministry of Education) • Health Management information System (Ministry of Health) • Population Welfare Management information System (Ministry of Population Welfare). • Other Organizations like Pakistan Institute of Development Economic, Population Council, and Provincial Bureaus of Statistics, Pakistan Medical Research Council, also conduct case studies/surveys from time to time etc.

8. Population Census • PopulationCensus is an important and most significant statistical activity undertaken in the country (stock taking of human resources). • Through the census huge amount of data on all basic variables is collected for each person at one quantum time. • Data collected through the census serves as bench mark for all type of socio-economic development planning and their evaluation. • Data collected through census are disaggregated by gender/sex cross-classified by all important variables like population size, its urban/rural distribution, age groups, marital status, education, employment/unemployment, migration, disability, homeless population by different admin. Units.

9. Pakistan Demographic Survey (PDS) • It is a national level sample survey conducted on annual basis by the FBS. The main objectives of the survey are: • To collect statistics of births and deaths in order to arrive at various measures of fertility and mortality for Pakistan and its urban and rural areas. • To estimate current rate of natural increase of population for • To collect information on other selected characteristics of population. • Above 36 thousand households are covered in the survey.

10. Labour Force Survey (LFS) • The Federal Bureau of Statistics has been conducting Labour Force Survey (LFS) since 1963 on annual basis. The last survey was held in 2005-06. • A “Penal on Labour Statistics” comprising of all stakeholders reviews and approves the LFS questionnaire/methodology in keeping with international standards. • The survey aims to provide data on (i) age, sex, marital status, literacy, level of education and migration of the population, (ii) dimensions of country’s labour force such as employed labour force classified by occupation & industry, formal & informal sectors, employment status, hours worked, safety and health information of the employed persons and characteristics of the unemployed labour force i.e. age, sex & level of education and pervious experience. • All these statistics are published by age and sex.

11. Pakistan Social and Living Standards Measurement Survey (PSLM) • The survey is designed to provide social and economic (household income & expenditure) indicators in the alternate years at district and provincial levels for evaluation of development programs initiated under Poverty Reduction strategy Paper (PRSP). • Information is collected from household on a range of social sectors covered under (PRSP) i.e. Education, Health, Household Assets/Amenities, Immunization, Pre/Post Natal care of females, household satisfaction by facilities & services and household income & expenditure. • The information is presented disaggregated by province, by region, (urban-rural) and by gender.

12. Present Status of Gender Disaggregated Data Base • The FBS in collaboration with ESCAP & Asian Development Bank developed gender disaggregated database. Based on this database the following publications were published. • Men & women (Booklet) – 1995 • Compendium on gender statistics 1999 and 2004 • The Topics/Indicators Covered in Compendium • Population size and trends • Demographic indicators (fertility & mortality) • Household and family structure • Health profile • Family planning • Education • Labour & employment • Women role in public life • Besides Population Census Organization (PCO) is also planning to develop a gender disaggregated database being a focal agency for SAARC gender.

13. Data Gaps • The data from sample surveys are available at the national level or at the provincial level. There is a need to extend the scope and coverage of the existing surveys conducted by FBS/NIPS to provide information at the district level. • Some more information/indicators on population, employment, education, health, family and households need to be included in the existing surveys. • Besides, some new surveys need to be conducted on violence against women, economic role of women, property house ownership, prevalence of HIV/AIDS, etc.

14. What the Gender Indicators do? • Gender-sensitive indicators make gender biases more visible and help measure gender-related changes in society over time. They can therefore make an important contribution to policy. • When data is disaggregated by sex, it can provide a more accurate picture of women’s economic contributions to society, and make visible their unpaid labour in the family and in the informal sector. • In many places, the very concept of work does not include undocumented work of women, such as small-scale farming, work in the informal sector, and water and firewood collection. • Thus, economic activity need to be defined to cover unreported and invisible work of women.

15. Women Count - But Are Not Counted • Much of the work that women do is 'invisible' in national censuses, despite its productive and social worth. One reason for this undercounting is that women’s activities are concentrated in small-scale agriculture, the informal sector and the home – areas for which data are deficient. • In addition, women’s work is often unpaid – including that devoted to carrying water, collecting fuel, processing and cooking food, etc. • The low value attached to women’s work requires a fundamental remedy: an accurate accounting of its contribution to development and overall social welfare. This requires much better gender-specific data, particularly for the informal and agricultural sectors

16. Engendering Census-2008 • The next Population Census to be held in 2008. The following steps have been taken to collect reliable statistics by gender in the Census. • Gender Cells have been established at PCO Hqs. as well as provincial offices to sensitize the census functionaries and handling gender issues. • Expert Group on engendering census has been formed to identify data gaps in the previous censuses and suggest improvement in census questionnaires and instruction manuals • The services of a resource person will be hired during the training of Master Trainers and Trainers to highlight the importance of gender equity. • Efforts will be made to recruit females as enumerators to the largest possible extent. • A two days workshop on engendering census was held on 17-18th April 2007. One day sensitization workshops being at Provincial Capitals include one session on gender equity.

17. Appointment of Female Staff • The enumerator is the key person in the census: the quality of data largely depends on the enumerators. To obtain quality data from the census, training of the field enumerators must be strong. • Enumerators and supervisors should be trained through vigorous gender sensitization so that awareness of gender concept and biases are very clear and precise. • The training should focus on changing the biased preconception of the enumerators and supervisors.

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