Govt likely to accept results despite MQM reservations

ISLAMABAD: The federal government is likely to accept the results of 6th Population and Housing Censuses 2017 despite reservations from some political parties, including its ally Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Pakistan well-informed sources in Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives told Business Recorder. The provisional results of the 6th Population and Housing Census - 2017 at block level were approved by the Council of Common Interest (CCI) on November 13, 2017 with the direction for 1% validation of census results. In a subsequent meeting held on November 24, 2017, it was decided to enhance the validation to 5 per cent to be conducted by a third party. However, the validation process could not be completed and the final result of the Census 2017 were not released.

On the direction of the Prime Minister, a summary was moved to CCI to place the validation issue before the forum and to seek approval to release final results of 2017. The CCI referred the validation issue to Parliament for an appropriate decision and also directed to defer the release of final results for the time being and to place the issue before the incoming Government.

Subsequently, on the request of Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, the Cabinet constituted a Committee of five Ministers under the chair of Ali Haider Zaidi, Minister for Maritime Affairs, “to deliberate and make recommendations for finalization of the results of the Census-2017 within the period of two months".

In compliance of the Cabinet’s Decision, Ministers’ Committee held various meetings with the relevant stakeholders and detailed deliberations were undertaken on the census methodology. The final recommendations of Committee are as follows: (i) in the larger national interest, the 6th Population and Housing Census-2017 should be accepted as final- although there are reservations on it ;(ii) next Census should be held at the earliest possible time - which may be determined after input from the stakeholders; and may be held before lapse of period of 10-years from the date of the 6th Population and Housing Census- 2017; (iii) use of technology should be ensured in order to remove doubts/concerns that were expressed in respect of 6th Population and Housing Census-2017 and ensure the same do not re-occur and ;(iv) a committee may be constituted under Ministry of Information Technology comprising of NADRA, Election Commission of Pakistan, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics with the mandate to suggest optimum use of technology to achieve objectives of census reflecting the ground realities.—MUSHTAQ GHUMMAN