The record of 70 million Pakistanis is not available with government agencies, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics told the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue on Wednesday.
“Out of Pakistan’s population of 196 million, data of 70 million people is missing and record is not available with the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics and National Database and Registration Authority,” Chief Statistician Asif Bajwa said while briefing the Senate panel.
Bajwa said that complete information regarding the country’s population can only be gained by performing a census, adding that the census was also essential in gauging the number of refugees residing in Pakistan.
“Our department is fully prepared to hold census in the country, however, the army is not ready to provide the required number of personnel,” stated Bajwa.
“Due to the ongoing war on terror, the army is unable to release its personnel for the census and it is impossible to conduct the census without their help.”
Bajwa also informed the committee that 166,000 workers are required to conduct the census, which excludes armed forces personnel.
“We have no plan to conduct population census without assistance of Pak Army,” Bajwa said.
