ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Parliamentary Secretary for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization, Rana Muhammad Afzal Khan on Friday informed the National Assembly that government was ready to hold population and housing census in March this year in case army personnel were available.
He was responding to a calling attention notice of Shekih Slahuddin and others about delay in holding of census in the country, causing grave concern amongst the public.
He said the process of population and housing census would be conducted under the supervision of army personal as it was decided in the Council of Common Interest (CCI) meeting, last year but added that the army was busy due to security situation in the country and the ongoing operation Zarb-e-Azb in North Waziristan.
He said the government was negotiating with defence ministry and as soon a green signal came from there census would be held in March or April, this year.
He said it was decided in meeting of Council of Common Interest (CCI) last year that census would be held in March 2016, adding that funds had been received, lists of personnel and their training had been done but the main issue was availability of army personnel.
Rana Afzal said census was a constitutional requirement and it was wrong to say that government was not interested in holding census.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab, answering another calling attention notice of Ghulam Sarwar Khan and other about irregularities and corruption of 137 billion rupees in various NHA projects said it was premature to raise corruption charges as these projects were in its initial stages.
He said that first the issue would be discussed with departmental accounts committee and auditors and if any irregularities were found then the matter would be sent to the Public Account Committee.
Source: APP
