Sixth population census gets under way in AJK

Exercise starts from presidency

MUZAFFARABAD: The sixth population census in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) was launched on Saturday by registering data of the AJK President Sardar Masood Khan and his family.

The registration was conducted under the supervision of Census Commissioner Raja Tariq Mehmood whose organisation will complete census for AJK in April 2017.

According to a press release, President Masood while speaking to the media said this is an important moment for AJK as the latest census will help collate data on population size, geographical distribution and demographic characteristics of the population in all ten districts.

He said that such data is important to ascertain living standards for socio-economic development planning, to delimit constituencies and to determine share in federal taxes.

The AJK president said: “As Azad Kashmir embarks on ambitious plans for social and economic development, we need a data revolution. Collection and collation of population data, and disaggregated information about gender, literacy, income, employment and businesses will enable us to plan better and to ensure delivery on the key economic targets.”

He went on to say said that this census is imperative for sustainable development in areas like elimination of poverty, universal access to health facilities, and education and environmental protection especially at a time when the AJK territory is being linked up with the CPEC.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2017.