The role of statistics in good governance was highlighted at a seminar held at the Karachi University campus.
A University spokesman said on Thursday that the day-long moot was organised by the department of statistics, University of Karachi.
He said that M.A. Sabzwari, one of the eldest statisticians in his 90s, pointed out that the British ruled the Indo-Pakistan sub-continent through statistics.
The veteran statistician stated that the British rulers having their seat at Calcutta used to know about all the provinces of the sub-continent through 'Gazetteers' which used to be published from every district.
These gazetteers, he explained, besides containing different type of statistics also contained vital statistics, health and education statistics and description of influential elders of the district.
On the occasion he also showed a copy of such gazetteer which was published in the 19th century.
Sabzwari also recounted the days when Central Statistics Office (CSO) which is now known as FBS, was established in 1950 in Pakistan.
He pointed out that CSO then started in two-room accommodation at the secretariat block.
Initially, Sabzwari went on, most emphasis was given on trade statistics. Simultaneously, population count under Census of Population Organisation, Ministry of Home Affairs was done in 1951.
Sabzwari described a great leap in administrative changes of statistics hierarchy in 1974 when statistics division was created at the centre with attached department of FBS, population Census Organisation and Agricultural Census Organisation besides Provincial Bureaus of Statistics were also established.
Professor Zahid Mahmood in his welcome speech also lauded the contributions of M.A. Sabzwari towards statistics.
Professor Masoodul Haq, president of the Karachi Society of Statistics and Information Sciences (KASSIS) presented the vote of thanks.
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