LAHORE (May 05): Punjab University’s College of Statistical and Actuarial Science organized a seminar on ‘Statistics produced by State Bank of Pakistan’ here at New Campus on Monday. Acting Vice-Chancellor Prof Azhar Ikram Ahmad was the chief guest on the occasion.

State Bank of Pakistan, Statistical and Data Warehouse Department Director Dr Azizullah Khattak and Co-Director Dr Ishaque, Prof Dr Ahmad Saeed and Dr Ghousia and a large number of students of College of Statistical and Actuarial Sciences were present in the auditorium of Environmental Law Centre. Speaking on the occasion, Prof Azhar Ikram said that such kind of seminars are of immense important because most research studies conclusion is based on statistics. He said in Pakistan getting authentic and quality statistics is a difficult task and those organizations which are collecting data on various important issues and variables are really doing big job. He thanked the officials from SBP for coming to Punjab University from Karachi to spread awareness on SBP data among PU students. He said data is the need of almost every student and teacher who is interested in research. He praised Dr Shahid for immediately grabbing the opportunity and arranging this seminar after receiving a letter from the State Bank. He said that he hoped that the SBP’s data would be authentic, user friendly and it would benefit the researchers of the Punjab University.

The vice-chancellor said that he is a regular reader of the annual, quarterly and monthly reports of SBP. These reports should also be provided to the other departments of the varsity. In his keynote address Dr Azizullah Khattak gave a comprehensive briefing on the SBP data and its practical uses by government ministries, researchers and students. He said that there are three pillars at work in this process, data producers, academia and ministers. The ministers use this data for policy-making in order to develop certain sectors of the country. Dr Azizullah said the seminar aimed at spreading awareness among students about the availability of suitable data for students and researchers which is being collected by the SBP. He said there were also rare to get feedback from the students to make the SBP data more user friendly. He said that the seminar would also help enhance collaboration between SBP and PU.

In the second session of his address, Dr Khattak elaborated about external sector, banking and finance and cooperate sector. He said that the data collected and prepared by SBP is at par with the international standards and IMF and World Bank is relying on their data. In his welcome address, College Principal Prof Dr Shahid Kamal said the objectives of organizing the seminar was to discuss the ways to improve the credibility of data collected, to reinforce scientific and technological collaboration between the State Bank of Pakistan and PU. He said their college is offering MSc Statistics, MSc Information and Operational Management, MSc Biostatistics, MSc Actuarial Sciences and Master of Business Statistics and Management besides running MPhil and PhD programmes. Being the premier college of higher education in Pakistan, the college is trying its best efforts in acquiring and promoting the traditional as well as nontraditional knowledge and research through conferences, workshops, seminars, teaching and learning.