In the past, the Government of Punjab faced challenges in implementing effectively targeted programs due to the absence of a comprehensive and accurate socio-economic registry.
The National Socio-Economic Registry (NSER) has been used for targeting social protection programs; however, it is plagued by significant inclusion and exclusion errors. Moreover, it did not provide the provincial government with the authority to customize, manage, or update the data as needed.
The Honorable Chief Minister of Punjab realizing the importance of evidence-based policy making, after assuming office in her maiden speech on 26th February 2024, announced the creation of Punjab Socio-Economic Registry (PSER).
The PSER is designed to be a beta-family-based data repository and dynamic, real-time integrated decision-support system for all programs of Government of the Punjab. It will assist the government in identifying prospective beneficiaries for various programs and initiatives, thus improving targeting, service delivery, and overall governance. The repository will contain detailed information about the socio-economic conditions of citizens which includes household characteristics, composition, assets and living conditions. These variables are then utilized to calculate the Proxy Means Test (PMT) score, by applying appropriate weights, which ranks families on the basis of wellbeing.
The specific objectives of PSER are: I) To develop a comprehensive and dynamic socioeconomic profile of all the citizens of Punjab. II) Act as a planning tool for resource allocation, decision-making, and evidence-based policy formulation. III) Assist in the identification of prospective beneficiaries for government programs, leading to improved targeting and service delivery.
The initiative is steered under the supervision of Senior Minister P&D, Ms. Marriyum Aurangzeb. The Technical Working Group and Core Working Group (CWG) notified to design and oversee the creation of the PSER, have done commendable work in a short span of time with the able support of the P&D Board. PSER is being executed through the following implementing partners Punjab Social Protection Authority (PSPA), Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), Urban Unit and Bureau of Statistics, while P&D Board as sponsoring agency
The development of PSER is envisioned in three phases, resulting into PSER’s short-term and long-term versions. The short-term version based on consolidation of existing administrative datasets of Punjab has already been completed. The PC-1 was approved on 11th December 2024 with budget allocation of Rs. 2,450 million. Currently, the desk- and web-based registrations for the long-term version are underway, while the door-to-door survey, ensuring comprehensive coverage, is set to commence in April 2025.
To facilitate desk-based registration more than 4,000 registration centers have been established in the UC office and 4,387 interns are hired for a period of 5 months with monthly salary of Rs.50,000 to assist LG&CD staff with registrations. Since the launch of the PSER by the CM Punjab on 25th July 2024, 3.95 million families (including 17.13individuals) have registered till 2nd February 2025. To ensure the authenticity of data, a sample-based field verification is being conducted across all districts.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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