By Mohsin Zaheer

Question number 7 on U.S. Census 2020 (paper) form is about person’s race. New Jersey’s Pakistani American community activists are asking community members to opt for “other” and write “Pakistani” in the box. So that, the Pakistanis living in the state could reflect the exact numbers of their community members.

Nobody exactly knows how many Pakistanis are living in New Jersey. However community leaders just guess to figure out the numbers.

Mohammad Ali Chaudry who served as Bernards Township Mayor in 2004 and became the first Pakistani born Mayor in America want to know too, the exact numbers of Pakistanis living in New Jersey.

“There is no formal study that how many Pakistanis are living in New Jersey but it would be a great idea, said Mayor Chaudry and added, “We have an opportunity to be counted as Pakistanis if we write ‘Pakistani’ when filling out our census form.”

He further said, “I moved to New Jersey in 1973 and we used to go to New York City to buy ‘halal’ (food and meat prepared as prescribed by Muslim law) groceries but now over the period of 40 years there is a tremendous growth of our community.”

“Though we are confronting the challenge of Coronavirus outbreak but at the same time ongoing Census is very important too,” Mayor Chaudry said and added, “our Islamic Centers and other organizations are asking community members in our online and virtual meetings being held while all of us are staying home, to take part in Census.”

“And opt for ‘Pakistani’ when it comes to race, is a good idea too,” he concluded.

Salim Siddiqui who is a Pakistani journalist living in New Jersey for the last 30 years, have no idea about the numbers of Pakistanis in New Jersey but he differed when it was quoted that according to a policy institute, Center for American Progress, numbers of Pakistanis in New Jersey were 31,958 back in 2015.

“I think numbers were higher then and higher now, Siddiqui said and added, “There is a tremendous growth of our community in New Jersey.”

He further said that response to U.S. Census 2020 in our community is slow and one and main reason is COVID-19 pandemic. Still we have enough time and community should not miss this opportunity, Siddiqui concluded.

“Media can help bridge the digital divide, said Alana Vega, Kids Count Coordinator of Advocates for Children of New Jersey (ACNJ) which is an independent, non-profit, non-partisan organization. She further said, “Household can response online, by phone or by mail. COVID-19 has postponed outreach activities. Many organizations have switched to digital outreach strategies.”

In addition to English, people can respond to the Census online or by phone in 12 different languages. Urdu is not included. The paper form is available in English and Spanish only.

“Like other faith based centers, our Islamic center, Islamic Society of Central Jersey is also closed but my daughter who is helping the center to hold virtual meetings, is also urging community members to make sure to be counted in ongoing Census 2020, said Mayor Chaudry.

“The 2020 Census can be completed on your own schedule, from your own home, said Alana Vega and added “Census data ensure that NJ receives it fair share of funding for important program-many of which are critically needed during the current pandemic.

New Jersey is the second hardest hit state by the pandemic in the country. There are 130,593COVID-19 confirm cases and 8,244 deaths as of 5^th of May in New Jersey, as reported by COVID-19 website launched by the state’s department of health.

“Census is really critical and we are experiencing a real time example of why Census is so important for public health resources, said Ms. Alana and added, “This is a really important time and a reminder why Census is so important.”

“Another reason why Census is important is that it will determine our representation in the Congress and data would also use to draw our congressional districts,” said Ms Alana.

“Recently one of our Muslim community members Yousef Saleh got appointed as new Ward D councilman of Jersey city to replace the late Councilman Michael Yun”, told Sam Khan, executive director of American Muslim Council and added, “Muslims in New Jersey are eying on elected positions in the near time to come.”

But elections is all about numbers game, so be counted in Census is very important, Khan concluded.

Check this out – Census 2020: New Jersey’s Pakistani community Undeterred by COVID-19 Lockdown

Video – Center for Cooperative Media Census Webinar