A workshop on "Preparation of Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP-II)" expressed serious concern over poor data system, saying existing information dissemination process was extremely misleading, making the entire policy work dubious.
The participants of the workshop urged the government that it should establish an independent Federal Statistics Authority (FSA) to collect reliable data of all the key sectors such as health, education and agriculture.
They were of the view that reliable data of key sector was inevitable for the official consumption for policy framework.
Dr A R Kamal of SDPI agreed with the participants who questioned authenticity of the official data that it was a confusing issue, which needed to be addressed on priority basis.
He said that authenticity of data was must for carrying out policy work and set reasonable target for all the key areas. He mentioned poverty reduction strategy, budgetary preparation and several other policy works, and noted that none of these areas could have a proper shape without reliable official data.
Dr Kamal demanded of the finance ministry that it should provide necessary funding to establish the FSA to have correct data of all the sectors.
He said one could not take of any sector where the government was having reliable data and this "pandora box" would lead the country nowhere.
Dr Kamal said, "You talk of education we do not have any authentic data, you pick up health sector no one can have reliable official statistics and the same is the story of each and every sector that plays key role in the country's progress and development and one can only call this state of affairs as unfortunate."
But, he added, the government must feel urgency and sensitivity of the issue and take practical steps to workout a system, which could give true picture of the situation and help the government prepare real and realistic policies.
Dr Kamal noted that all the government institutions at the federal and provincial levels were providing different data and making it difficult for the policy makers to have clear picture of the things.
He told a questioner that Pakistan's industrial sector might feel difficulty in competing with the international players and some of local industries close down but in the long run globalisation is going to pay Pakistan both ways.
Dr Kamal said that quality and enhanced production were key to the success to the new system of globalisation.
Advisor to the Prime Minister on Finance Dr Salman Shah on the occasion assured the participants that the government was taking several steps to put in place system to have correct and reliable official data.
He said the government was already carrying out an exercise to have an independent statistics authority.
Advisor to the finance ministry Dr Ashfaque Hasan Khan agreed with Dr Kamal that authentic data was a must for preparing real and accurate policies, however, he claimed that Pakistan was a victim of bad image at all levels.
He said, "I gave a detailed presentation to G22 countries at a meeting of Paris Club some time back and told the participants that Pakistan was not as poor as was being painted by some international agencies and similarly not as week as was being portrayed in some reports. The country was the victim of poor presentation otherwise it was as good as many countries that have claimed unprecedented success in many key areas."
Dr Nuzhat Ahmed of Karachi University wanted the government authorities to not waste their energies in petty things and go for the job of preparing good policies to tackle the real issues like poverty unemployment and non-availability of basic facilities.Farooq Khan of the finance ministry gave a detailed presentation to the participants on Medium Term Budgetary Framework (MTBF).
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