KARACHI – The Sindh government on Saturday asked the federal government to extend the ongoing house enumeration process by seven to 10 days because, according to the provincial government, it might be impossible to count all the houses within the scheduled time.
The house count process, which was initiated on April 5 is supposed to end on April 19. However, according to several reports received by the government, house enumeration has either not been initiated or might not be completed in several parts of Sindh.
The decision to approach the federal government for extending the house count process was made during a high-level meeting held at the Chief Minister’s House with Chief Secretary Subhan Memon in chair. Provincial Census Commissioner Noor Muhammad Leghari also attended the meeting.
“It might not be possible to count a large number of houses by April 19. Therefore, extension in the enumeration date is necessary,” Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah said.
He said that census is an important procedure and it should be done comprehensively. According to him, citizens of several areas have complained against incomplete house count.
According to an official handout, the chief secretary said that the house enumeration process is being monitored all across the province and complaints are being addressed wherever they are being received from.
He said that the authorities are still trying to complete the process within the scheduled time. In this connection, he added, it has been decided that the enumeration staff that has completed their job in one area would be sent to other areas to expedite the process.
He said that no pressure would be accepted in the counting procedure, adding that the authorities have issued directives to accelerate enumeration in those districts where it is being done at a slow pace.
The census commissioner said that several teams have been set up for addressing complaints regarding the house count process.
Regarding the reports received about issuance of fake enumeration forms in Karachi, he said that the authorities have taken action and cancelled those entries. Fresh enumeration was conducted in those areas, he added.
Local Government Minister Agha Siraj Durrani said that the government has taken notice of complaints regarding irregularities in the house count procedure.
He said that some people belonging to nationalist parties always raise a hue and cry over one pretext or the other whenever the Pakistan People’s Party government comes in power.
