ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday directed the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) to initiate a survey of rural areas as part of documentation of the economy.

Chairing a meeting to review the working of PBS, Mr Dar directed the bureau to complete the survey expeditiously so that updated data is available for making informed decisions, an official statement said.

PBS Chief Statistician Asif Bajwa briefed the minister on various activities of the agency.

He made a detailed presentation on the ‘Urban Rural Areas Frame Updation Project’ and informed that PBS surveyors have done most of the work for digital mapping of urban areas in the country.

The remaining work, carried out in coordination with the provincial governments, will be completed within 6-8 weeks, he said.

Mr Bajwa also briefed about the ‘Rebasing of National Accounts Project’.

The meeting was informed that PBS has completed four surveys including the Construction Survey, Small & Household Manufacturing Industries Survey, Rent Survey and Household Integrated Income and Consumption Survey.

In the coming year, a study on road transport and surveys on agriculture, industries, wholesale, retail trade and electricity establishment would be completed.

The chief statistician further informed the minister that PBS has started a programme for the in-house training and skill improvement of its staff. New technologies and software updates are also being introduced to ensure better performance of the institution.

Published in Dawn, May 7th, 2016