CCI postpones countrywide census planned for March

Decision comes after taking into account Operation Zarb-e-Azb and unavailability of troops and manpower

ISLAMABAD: The Council of Common Interests (CCI) on Monday decided to postpone a population census planned for March owing to an unavailability of army personnel and manpower for the countrywide headcount.

Earlier, the census was planned for March after a gap of about 16 years with security and other arrangements afoot to make it a success.

While chairing the meeting, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif decided to postpone the much-awaited headcount, urging that all the stakeholders involved in the process should be taken on-board.



The meeting decided that a next meeting of the council on March 25 will discuss national flood protection plan, with minister for power and four chief ministers presenting a comprehensive plan.

Working on a nine-point agenda, the CCI also approved an inquiry commission to investigate illegalities in Kacchi Canal project, deciding that the body will be led by a retired judge of the supreme or high court.



Beside, the meeting also approved a draft of Security and Exchange Commission bill.

On February 27, Pakistan Army assured the government that it would review the number of troops it can commit for monitoring population census.



The GHQ initially committed 100,000 troops, which is about one-fourth of the initial requirements pitched by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics to monitor and supervise the census and maintain law and order during the exercise.