Upcoming census: Activists urge political parties to mobilise public

National survey is being held in March after an almost 18-year gap

KARACHI: Civil society activists are concerned about the upcoming national survey being held in March after a gap of almost 18 years and have urged political parties to mobilise the public and ensure a consecutive census every 10 years, as per the law.

Activists got together at an event 'Population Census 2016 and the Role of Civil Society in Sindh' organised by Sindh Social Scientist Forum (SSSF) and The Change Organisation (TCO), to debate on the issue at TCO office on Monday.

Referring to the people who migrate to Karachi, writer and advocate Fazal Suleiman Kazi said these citizens are converting the original residents into minorities. "It also disturbs the demographic change and increases the number of social and economic problems," he added.



Sharing details of a house count held in 2011, TCO head Ishaque Soomro said the federal government has announced the census without consulting any province.

Soomro believes that Karachi's demography has imbalanced Sindh's overall population. He said the port city's population has gone up by around 114 per cent in the last 18 years. Advocate Javed Qazi described the census as a scientific subject. He said national resources are distributed and seats in the National Assembly, provincial assemblies and senate are allocated on basis of the census.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 13^th, 2016.