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The University of Sargodha hosted a seminar titled “From Evidence to Decisions: A Reflection Seminar on Punjab’s Socio-Economic Registry” to discuss how reliable household data can guide social reforms, improve public services and ensure that welfare initiatives reach those who need them most.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Tasawar Hayat (H.I., S.I., T.I.) and Pro Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Masood Sarwar Awan attended the seminar, organised to strengthen engagement between the Punjab government, academia and researchers on the use of socio-economic data for evidence-based policymaking.

Addressing participants, Prof. Dr. Tasawar Hayat said the University of Sargodha is the first platform to host an engagement of this kind with the Punjab Socio-Economic Registry (PSER), bringing the initiative closer to students, researchers and the wider public. Appreciating the vision of CM of Punjab behind the programme, he said the initiative could help reshape development planning by aligning public resources with people’s actual needs. He added that universities and young researchers had a responsibility to contribute to a society that creates opportunities and generates employment.

“Decisions are valuable when they improve human lives,” he said, emphasising the need to translate research and data into practical outcomes.

Project Director PSER Qamar Zaman Qaisrani briefed participants on the registry, a Punjab government initiative to compile comprehensive household-level information on socio-economic conditions. He presented data covering around 120 million people, categorised across different indicators, and explained how the information could support the identification of deserving families, targeted social protection, equitable resource allocation and more effective public services.

The registry records information on household circumstances, including income-related indicators, education, health, employment and living standards, providing a basis for assessing needs and planning interventions.

Chairman of the Department of Sociology and Criminology Dr. Shahzad Khawar Mushtaq said the seminar would strengthen institutional engagement between the government and university researchers. He noted that reliable baseline data could help policymakers identify social challenges and make informed decisions for inclusive development.

The discussion highlighted the role of evidence-led governance in advancing social inclusion, improving welfare delivery and building a more prosperous Punjab.