What Strategies to Follow in Census-2021 to Null Flaws?
The rejection would have meant a massive loss to the provinces. Therefore, CCI gave it a green signal with a majority vote
After a delay of almost three and a half years, the national population and housing census-2017 was finally approved by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) amid all the reservations and objections.
Whereas, the new census is announced to be held by the end of 2021.
A number of concerns were expressed on the 2017 census pertaining to the urban population in Karachi.
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Meanwhile, the 2018 elections were held based on the same census and parliament failed miserably to address the issues related to it.
Just three days before the dissolution of assembly in 2013, it was announced to take the matter to consult in the parliament, however, it remained a mere formality.
The recognition of the 2017 census was out of compulsion because if CCI had rejected it, the resources allocation formula would have been based on the last census that was held in 1998.
The rejection would have meant a massive loss to the provinces. Therefore, CCI gave it a green signal with a majority vote.
It will add up an additional Rs 23 billion in the next two year’s development budget for FATA tribal areas, Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
While talking to News360, an official of the ministry of planning informed that small and underdeveloped provinces will get Rs 12 billion on an immediate basis for this fiscal year.
“Funds worth Rs 11 billion will be earmarked for underdeveloped provinces in the next fiscal year”, he added.
Strategies for Upcoming Census program
Keeping in view the controversies looming over the last census, the federal cabinet decided to constitute a minister’s committee for recommendations and to finalize the results.
Apart from this, the data of smartphone users in Pakistan is fully verified and up to date, and the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) has a record of nearly 66% population of the country that will be helpful in the next census.
The survey conducted for the population living below the poverty line can be included in the new enumeration.
Apart from this, the traditional and years-old records of the finance department in Sindh, Punjab, and KP have also been upgraded.
Officials from the Pakistan Board of Statistics informed News360 that physically disabled people were not included in the 2017 census.
“However, the new census will include data of people with complete disabilities, partial impairments, eunuchs, religious minorities and foreigners”.
