6th population and housing census starts in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Long awaited 6th population and housing census in Pakistan has been started today (March 15, 2017 which will be concluded in two phases.

Over 200,000 Pakistan army personnel will help around 84,000 enumerators for counting population and housing units.

In his message on the occasion of 6th population census, President Mamnoon Hussain said that census is an important national obligation.

The president said that correct counting of population is necessary for welfare of people. He urged all people to cooperate with staff of census.

It may be mentioned that an amount of Rs7.5 billion has already been released and disbursed to provinces to make arrangements for census which is scheduled to be held in two phases. Total cost of census would 18.5 billion rupees.

Pakistan has been divided into 168,120 census blocks and one enumerator would be responsible for counting two blocks while each block consists of about 200 housing units.

Census exercise would conclude on May 25, 2017 and the summary results of the population would be made public after 60 days of census. Summary results will help government to determine share of provinces in forthcoming National Finance Commission (NFC) Award which is scheduled to be announced before new financial year starting from July 1, 2017.

According to the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, the first phase of census would be completed in mid April while the second phase is likely to be initiated from April 25 and would end on 25 May.

6^th population and housing census will cost Rs.18.5 billion

Census is Pakistan should have been held in year 2008 but now is being held with a delay of 19 years. Last census was held in 1998. According to Article 51 of the constitution 1973, the government must hold census after every 10 years.

According to census laws:

The Census (Population & Housing) is a Federal subject as listed at Sl. NO. 38 of Federal Legislation list, Part-1, Fourth Schedule, Constitution of Pakistan. The seats in the National Assembly are allocated to each Province/FATA and Federal Territory on the basis of the population in accordance with the last preceding census officially published under Article-51(3) of the Constitution. Further, distribution of funds between the Federation and the Provinces are made through National Finance Commission. Article-160(2) speaks about the formation of the National Finance Commission which also uses census figures. The quota for recruitment to Federal posts is also worked out on the basis of population ratios as given by the census. Establishment Division’s O.M. No. 8/9/72, TRV, dated 31st August, 1973, refers in this regard. First 5 censuses were undertaken with the legal cover of Census Ordinance, 1959 amended from time to time. The 6th Population and Housing Census will be conducted under the legal cover of General Statistics (Re-organization) Act, 2011.

One of the major reason behind postponement of census in Pakistan was its grave law and order situation since the rise of terrorism after 9/11 tragedy when international terrorists fled to Pakistan from Afghanistan after international community launched attacks in Afghanistan. Terrorists outfits including Al-Qaeeda leadership managed to establish its presence in restive tribal areas of Pakistan and then several terrorists groups launched war against Pakistan.

Pakistan successfully gained tribal areas and established its writ under operation Zarb-e-Azb that was initiated in June 2014. Entire tribal areas came under the writ of government of Pakistan by the end of year 2016.

Here follow is Census Calendar provided by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics