Foreign observers ‘satisfied with census process’

Chief statistician says FATA to be covered in second phase that begins today

ISLAMABAD: As the second phase of the sixth population census begins today (Tuesday) that will also cover the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, foreign observers have expressed their satisfaction over the first phase carried out in 63 districts of the country, said Chief Census Commissioner Asif Bajwa on Monday.

The positive feedback by six international observers is likely to strengthen hands of the authorities concerned who faced questions about their preparedness and transparency in conducting the largest door-to-door exercise.

“The international observers do not identify major flaws during the first phase of the house listing and population census,” Bajwa told a press conference at the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.



The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) had arranged the visit of the foreign observers to determine the process’ alignment with international standards.

However, the observers had some objections with regard to the media campaign run by the government to sensitise people about the exercise, noting that billboards should also have been placed all across the country, explaining the benefits and process of the population census, said Bajwa.

Yet the foreign observers noted that every household was aware of the population census, Bajwa added.

The chief statistician was speaking to the media a day before the start of the second phase of the exercise.



As many as 88 districts across the country would be covered during the second phase, according to the chief census commissioner. The second phase includes 20 districts in Punjab, 21 in Sindh, 17 in Balochistan, 18 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, six in Fata, five each in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and the Islamabad Federal Capital Territory.

The process would continue till May 24, as the Chief Census Commissioner vowed to complete the exercise within the stipulated time due to the advent of Ramazan, likely to start from May 26.

The first phase, which commenced on March 15 and ended earlier this month, was conducted in eight districts of Sindh, 16 districts of Punjab, 14 districts of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 15 districts of Balochistan, five districts of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and five districts of Gilgit-Baltistan.

“No major untoward incident has happened during the first phase except a suicide bombing in Lahore in which four army personnel and three civilians were killed,” said Bajwa.



“As many as eight enumerators had also been kidnapped from the Kech district of Balochistan, but seven of them have returned to their homes,” said Bajwa, adding “One enumerator, who happens to be a schoolteacher, is still missing.”

“Compared with the first phase, we have further improved our systems and procedures while learning from our experience,” said Dr Shujat Ali, Secretary, Statistics Division.

Bajwa said so far the census authorities had verified data of 3.79 million heads of households from the National Database and Registration Authority.

Meanwhile, the government has made foolproof security arrangements to hold census in six tribal agencies and Frontier Regions of Fata.



Mohmand Agency Political Agent Mehmood Aslam Wazir, while giving details, told The Express Tribune that the census will be held in two phases.

He said although no registered IDPs were there in Mohmand tribal area, those who had been settled in other parts of the country but had permanent residence in the agency would be facilitated by the administration.

Also, ANP Mohmand president Nisar Mohmand told The Express Tribune that when a large number of Mohmand population had been living outside the agency, how can we expect that our population would increase.

Senator Hilal Rehman, chairman of the Senate Committee for SAFRON also showed similar reservations.



“The government has announced that only registered IDPs will be counted in the census. Then, what will be the status of those Mohmand residents who have migrated to Punjab and Karachi due to law and order and will come back after some time?”

 

(With additional input from Mureeb Mohmand in Shabqadar)