In the recently held meeting of Council of Common Interest (CCI) it has been decided that the sixth population census will be carried out in March 2016. This national exercise of housing and population census will be conducted with the support and supervision of armed forces and all four provinces will bear its cost. This decision has been long overdue as the last census was held in 1998. Since then considerable demographic changes have occurred. An updated population census gives an accurate data which plays a vital role in formulating economic policies, developmental projects and social strategies. Moreover, in the special scenario of the ongoing decisive operation against terrorism, the registration of population through census will also help the law enforcement agencies to devise their security plans as per the demographic requirements.
AFIA MALIK
Lahore