INTERNSHIP REPORT ON BUREAU OF STATISTICS, GOVERNMENT OF PUNJAB, LAHORE

Abstract

The Bureau of Statistics, Government of Punjab, serves as the primary repository and hub for statistical data activities in the province, tasked with collecting, analyzing, and disseminating statistical information through various publications and media. As it is attached to the Planning and Development Department, BOS operates in accordance with standards set by the National Statistical Council. Its key functions are to collect provincial- level data, coordinate and support statistical activities across the province, liaise with the Federal Statistical System, and prepare and disseminate provincial indicators through institutional sources and new censuses/surveys. With its Head Office in Lahore and an extensive network of 9 divisional and 15 district field offices, BOS, Punjab ensures comprehensive coverage across the province. Upon gaining independence in 1947, Pakistan faced the challenge of a decentralized statistical system, where data production was closely tied to government administration rather than a centralized statistical authority. Before establishing the Bureau of Statistics, statistical functions were dispersed across various government departments, with each department's statistical cell possessing differing levels of strength, technical expertise, and skills. However, there was no centralized agency to coordinate and harmonize their activities, resulting in a lack of cohesion and consistency in statistical data collection and analysis. Recognizing the system's limitations, the Pakistan Government established the Central Statistical Office (CSO) in 1950 as an attached department of the Economic Affairs Division, based on the recommendations of the Statistical Reorganization Committee. The CSO aimed to coordinate the country's statistical activities and meet its growing data needs. As development planning gained emphasis and demand for statistical data increased, the Planning Commission recommended expanding CSO's activities, leading to the establishment of Provincial Bureaus of Statistics in West Pakistan and East Pakistan, as advised by the IBRD Mission. The Bureau of Statistics was subsequently established in October 1957 within the Power, Irrigation & Development Department of the Government of West Pakistan, tasked with providing a continuous source of statistical data, enhancing provincial statistics, and disseminating information through publications. The Bureau was later integrated into the Planning and Development Department on January 31, 1959, and declared an attached department on July 1, 1973.