General Census: A problem that has solution of many issues

by Tauqeer Abbas
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census

SHAFAQNA PAKISTAN (Shia News Agency)

Pakistan has decided to hold general census of population and housing unit from March next year after a gap of 17 years, officials told to news agencies.  The last census was done in 1998 and delayed by successive governments as financial allocations and seats in the parliament are given to federating units on basis of population and the census affects the allocations. The government’s announcement that the census will be held by March 2016 is a welcome development, and going by the work that is being assigned and the funds that have been allocated for the demographic exercise, it does seem as if a credible effort is finally getting under way. Also By gaining a better estimate of the population size and its demographics, the government is expected to make well-judged decisions relating to distribution of resources among provinces, delimitation of constituencies and tax collection. Official figures point out that Pakistan’s population is increasing at an annual rate of 2.3 percent, but the exact population size remains unknown in the absence of any recently held census. Therefore, the mammoth task of carrying out a census remains central to future planning of Pakistan, as it would reflect how the country has changed in the previous one and a half decade. Shifts in demographics of the population, coupled with a sharp increase in its total size, have created new challenges and opportunities for Pakistan. The population census will also help remove apprehensions of major political parties about delimitations of certain constituencies, which may hurt their vote bank. In 2002 the number of parliamentary seats was increased, but electoral demarcations still reflected the 1998 census. Outdated population statistics have reinforced the political status quo and privileged some political parties at the expense of others, even disadvantaging some. This strikes at the very heart of representative democracy. Electoral constituencies should be demarcated to reflect today’s Pakistan, not that of the past. For this reason, the Election Commission of Pakistan has been in the forefront urging the government to order a census. If the PML-N can successfully execute these jobs without stirring up a hornets’ nest of interprovincial issues, it stands to credibly put to rest the perception that it is a party that runs the affairs of the country with the interests of only one province in mind. But if it should trip on the way, it could give new life to allegations that it is a provincial party.

 All Pakistanis must be encouraged to be a part of this national exercise as census results can be fruitful in providing a rationale for new legislation that directly improves the lives of the masses. 
pakistan.shafaqna.com