6th population and housing census starts in Pakistan

News6th population and housing census starts in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Long awaited 6th population and housing census in Pakistan has been started today (March 15, 2017 which will be concluded in two phases.

Over 200,000 Pakistan army personnel will help around 84,000 enumerators for counting population and housing units.

In his message on the occasion of 6th population census, President Mamnoon Hussain said that census is an important national obligation.

The president said that correct counting of population is necessary for welfare of people. He urged all people to cooperate with staff of census.

It may be mentioned that an amount of Rs7.5 billion has already been released and disbursed to provinces to make arrangements for census which is scheduled to be held in two phases. Total cost of census would 18.5 billion rupees.

Pakistan has been divided into 168,120 census blocks and one enumerator would be responsible for counting two blocks while each block consists of about 200 housing units.

Census exercise would conclude on May 25, 2017 and the summary results of the population would be made public after 60 days of census. Summary results will help government to determine share of provinces in forthcoming National Finance Commission (NFC) Award which is scheduled to be announced before new financial year starting from July 1, 2017.

According to the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, the first phase of census would be completed in mid April while the second phase is likely to be initiated from April 25 and would end on 25 May.

6th population and housing census will cost Rs.18.5 billion

Census is Pakistan should have been held in year 2008 but now is being held with a delay of 19 years. Last census was held in 1998. According to Article 51 of the constitution 1973, the government must hold census after every 10 years.

According to census laws:

The Census (Population & Housing) is a Federal subject as listed at Sl. NO. 38 of Federal Legislation list, Part-1, Fourth Schedule, Constitution of Pakistan. The seats in the National Assembly are allocated to each Province/FATA and Federal Territory on the basis of the population in accordance with the last preceding census officially published under Article-51(3) of the Constitution. Further, distribution of funds between the Federation and the Provinces are made through National Finance Commission. Article-160(2) speaks about the formation of the National Finance Commission which also uses census figures. The quota for recruitment to Federal posts is also worked out on the basis of population ratios as given by the census. Establishment Division’s O.M. No. 8/9/72, TRV, dated 31st August, 1973, refers in this regard. First 5 censuses were undertaken with the legal cover of Census Ordinance, 1959 amended from time to time. The 6th Population and Housing Census will be conducted under the legal cover of General Statistics (Re-organization) Act, 2011.

One of the major reason behind postponement of census in Pakistan was its grave law and order situation since the rise of terrorism after 9/11 tragedy when international terrorists fled to Pakistan from Afghanistan after international community launched attacks in Afghanistan. Terrorists outfits including Al-Qaeeda leadership managed to establish its presence in restive tribal areas of Pakistan and then several terrorists groups launched war against Pakistan.

Pakistan successfully gained tribal areas and established its writ under operation Zarb-e-Azb that was initiated in June 2014. Entire tribal areas came under the writ of government of Pakistan by the end of year 2016.

 

Here follow is Census Calendar provided by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics

S.NO.ActivitiesDuration in Months
UPDATING OF DELIMITATION AREAS
1Freezing of administrative boundaries7
2Delimitation  and Geo. Coding of Census area2
3Updation of Field work (Geo. Coding)Continue
4Updating of area listContinue
5Preparation of set of maps & delimitation forms for field staffurban completed
Rural in progress
PLANNING AND PREPARATION
6Preparation of BudgetCompleted
7Appointment of Provincial Census CommissionersCompleted
8Coordination meeting with Provincial  Functionaries2
9Appointment of Census District Officers (CDO)in progress
10To reassess the requirement of Census material and its procurement3
11Review / Printing of House Listing Questionnaires and other Forms etc.Completed
12Review  / Printing of Field Operation Plan and Training MannualsCompleted
13Selection of Media Houses and Development of Publicity Material3
14Publicity campaign4
15Establishment of Census Office with CDO2
16Series of Sensitization Workshops Prov./Div./Dist. Management3
17Series of Sensitization Workshops
Political Representatives
3
18Appointment of Field Staff (Enumerators, Circle Supervisors and Charge Superintendents2
19Training of Master Trainers and Trainers (Refresher Course)2
20Training of Field Staff2
21Formation of Census Coordination Committees and Vigilance Teams at Division/District/Tehsil Level2
22Distribution of Census Material2
23Establishment of Control Rooms at Federal/ Prov./Dist./Census District Level4
Note:-
FIELD OPERATION WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN TWO PHASES
TWO BLOCKS WILL BE COVERED BY ONE ENUMERATOR IN EACH PHASE
PHASE-1
Field Enumeration for 1st Block 
24House Listing Operation @ 3 days per block15th March to 17th March 2017
25Filling up of Form-2 @ 10 days per block18th March to 27th March 2017
26Enumeration of homeless population @ 1 day per block28th March 2017
27Retrieval of Filled in documents and issuance of Census material for 2nd Block29th March to 30th March 2017
Field Enumeration for 2nd Block
28House Listing Operation @ 3 days per block31st March to 2nd April 2017
29Filling up Form-2 @ 10 days per block 3rd April 2017  to 12th April 2017
30Enumeration of homeless population @ 1 day per block13th April 2017
31Retrieval of REN – 214th April 2017 to 20th April 2017
32Retrieval of Filled in documents14th April 2017 to 13th May 2017
Note:-
2ND PHASE WILL START WITH A GAP OF 10 DAYS
PHASE-2
33Field Enumeration for 1st Block
34House Listing Operation @ 3 days per block 25th April 2017  to 27th April 2017
35Filling up of Form-2 @ 10 days per block 28th April 2017  to 7th May 2017
36Enumeration of homeless population @ 1 day per block 8th May 2017
37Retrieval of Filled in documents and issuance of Census material for 2nd Block 9th May 2017  to 10th May 2017
Field Enumeration for 2nd Block 
38House Listing Operation @ 3 days per block 11th May 2017  to 13th May 2017
39Filling up Form-2 @ 10 days per block 14th May 2017  to 23rd May 2017
40Enumeration of homeless population @ 1 day per block 24th May 2017
41Retrieval of REN – 225th May 2017 to 31th May 2017
42Retrieval of Filled in documents 25th May 2017 to 24th June 2017

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