Objections raised over inclusion of illegal immigrants in census
First phase of housing census to commence from April 5.
KARACHI:
Members of Sindh Assembly on Thursday expressed concern over the mechanism being adopted by Federal Census Commission during census in the province and demanded illegal immigrants be excluded from the census.
Officials of the census commission said that all those holding a national identity card will included in the census.
Speaking during a presentation on census at the Sindh Assembly, Federal Secretary Statistics Asif Bajwa informed lawmakers about the census process, the first phase of which is being initiated in Sindh from April 5 to 19.
Bajwa said that constituencies of any area, share of national finance commission and federal jobs depends on the census, therefore people of every province should come forward to participate in the process.
During the presentation members of Sindh Assembly raised the issue of illegal immigrants and people living in IDP camps. The Federal Secretary said that it was their responsibility to count all those people holding national identity cards, irrespective of citizenship. He further said that people living in refugee camps would not be included in the regular census, however, there will be a separate system for them.
He said that after the completion of the first phase of house-counting, counting of citizens would commence after August or September.
“We will establish a complaint centre in local DCO and DDO offices of each district where people can lodge their complaints regarding the registration process,” he said.
Bajwa said that joint families living in the same house will not be counted as a separate family until and unless they manage their separate kitchen.
Responding to a question he said that efforts had been made to complete the census in all parts of the city.
Staff of Census Commission had trained governent teachers and revenue officials who will initially start a housing survey (counting residential buildings). For this purpose, areas had been divided into blocks and circles in every district with the help of local district administration.
He said that a total 35296 blocks and 7199 circles had been identified in the province where 200,000 enumerators will be carrying out census operations. Each block consists between 200 to 250 houses, while 7 blocks consist one circle.
The Federal Secretary said the Education Department had been taken into confidence before selecting teachers as enumerators.
Bajwa further said that a census is supposed to be held after every ten years. The last census was carried out in 1998.
“Due to calamities like earthquake and floods we postponed it,” he said.
Members of Sindh Assembly on Thursday expressed concern over the mechanism being adopted by Federal Census Commission during census in the province and demanded illegal immigrants be excluded from the census.
Officials of the census commission said that all those holding a national identity card will included in the census.
Speaking during a presentation on census at the Sindh Assembly, Federal Secretary Statistics Asif Bajwa informed lawmakers about the census process, the first phase of which is being initiated in Sindh from April 5 to 19.
Bajwa said that constituencies of any area, share of national finance commission and federal jobs depends on the census, therefore people of every province should come forward to participate in the process.
During the presentation members of Sindh Assembly raised the issue of illegal immigrants and people living in IDP camps. The Federal Secretary said that it was their responsibility to count all those people holding national identity cards, irrespective of citizenship. He further said that people living in refugee camps would not be included in the regular census, however, there will be a separate system for them.
He said that after the completion of the first phase of house-counting, counting of citizens would commence after August or September.
“We will establish a complaint centre in local DCO and DDO offices of each district where people can lodge their complaints regarding the registration process,” he said.
Bajwa said that joint families living in the same house will not be counted as a separate family until and unless they manage their separate kitchen.
Responding to a question he said that efforts had been made to complete the census in all parts of the city.
Staff of Census Commission had trained governent teachers and revenue officials who will initially start a housing survey (counting residential buildings). For this purpose, areas had been divided into blocks and circles in every district with the help of local district administration.
He said that a total 35296 blocks and 7199 circles had been identified in the province where 200,000 enumerators will be carrying out census operations. Each block consists between 200 to 250 houses, while 7 blocks consist one circle.
The Federal Secretary said the Education Department had been taken into confidence before selecting teachers as enumerators.
Bajwa further said that a census is supposed to be held after every ten years. The last census was carried out in 1998.
“Due to calamities like earthquake and floods we postponed it,” he said.