2017 census: win-win situation if transparency ensured

Yet reservations remain

PPP has raised its concern in respect to the SMS based facility for the verification of CNICs and access to information. The individuals should be declared Pakistani or otherwise through verification of the CNICs

The population and housing census is a significant national exercise for the construction and implementation of effective policies and laws ensuring economic stability and social parity. However, the Pakistani government has come to realise the dire need of national census for the first time in 19 years. The national census is mandatory every 10 years as per the constitution but has been delayed twice since 1998. The current census will include all people residing in Pakistan including the transgender community, disabled people and IDPs (internally displaced persons) and TDPs (Temporary Displaced Persons) as approximately 10 million people were displaces as a result of operation Zarb-e-Azb, launched in 2014.

“The national census should have been exercised on time as it is imperative in formulating evidence based legislations and policies in respect to political, social and economic matters of the state”, said Umar Cheema, Imran Khan’s spokesperson.

The ongoing census is proceeding apace in its first phase in 188 districts while the second phase will cover 270 districts across Pakistan at a financial cost of around $185 million.

Fig: 1.0 Distribution of Admin districts in phases

Pakistan Bureau of Statistics has taken 200,000 military officials on board, guaranteeing maximum transparency and credibility. Every civil enumerator will be accompanied with a soldier and will also collect his own data during the door-to-door campaign. The involvement of the army has been demanded by all political parties for the smooth and transparent execution of the census. Nonetheless, the joint efforts of the concerned authorities and army remain of a skeptical nature because of the irregularities observed in the census.

Besides, the house-count and head-count forms are filled in with a pencil, which is a rising concern as the use of pencil is not allowed. Although enumerators are trained through special programs offered by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the use of pencil is still prevalent.

“The enumerators continue to fill out the form by pencil and the concerned authorities haven’t made any arrangements to stop it,” Senator Tahir Mashadi, of MQM, told DNA.

In addition, 86,842 blocks have been formed to conduct the census on the basis of the 2011 numbering system which is absurd as there is an apparent increase in the number of houses and population since 2011.

“In the current census, flats are issued a single number regardless of the fact that they comprise multiple houses,” Mashadi said. “The concerned authorities have asserted that the number of houses in Ghotki have increased by 250 percent while the increase in number of the houses in urban areas is shown less than rural areas, which is impossible”.

If the current census will continue to proceed in accordance with the aforesaid practice, the entire regional demographic will be drastically changed, affecting policies regarding distribution of resources, development and infrastructure, representation in parliament, health sector, education sector, etc.

Moreover, it is pertinent to note that CNICs, B forms or any other proof of identity is acceptable for the current census. However, over suspicion of any misinformation given by an individual, the concerned authorities will avail the NADRA SMS based facility for verification of the family tree. The violator will be fined Rs50,000 along with a six-month imprisonment. PPP has also demanded disclosure of the information to ensure transparent results.

“The procedures put in place for the current census are consistent with the international census practices. The forms are approved by the 108 technical committee and over any kind of suspicion, the CNICs are being verified with the help of NADRA SMS facility”, said Syed ul Hassan, spokesperson to Asif Bajwa, chief statistician at PBS.

Given this, PPP has raised its concern in respect to the SMS based facility for the verification of CNICs and access to information. The individuals should be declared Pakistani or otherwise through verification of the CNICs. It is critical to monitor all the individuals CNICs or any other proof of identity provided through the relevant authorities rather than checking the suspect CNICs alone. Considering this, it will ensure the collection of accurate information and will be less time consuming since the form requires the CNICs of the family head and one can easily trace the accuracy of the given information through the family tree.

“There are reservations regarding the procedures in practice for the census and the government should take those reservations on board for the smooth and transparent execution of the census”, said Senator Safdar Abbasi of PPP.

Although, the Council of Common Interests (CII) was the forum to sort out the issues pertaining to the census, the issues remain unsettled. However, the current government must address the reservations voiced by the opposition parties in order to ensure a transparent and proficient census. Otherwise, the results will be rendered futile because of the unavailability of complete and accurate data. Unerring census results are indispensable as it is the determinant of effective policy making, planning and administration. It aids the policy makers for a in depth analysis of the transition in the urbanisation, the gender configuration, geographical distribution of the population, unemployment and employment, literacy and illiteracy rate, etc. It is high time, the government and the political parties resolved the present conflicts and discerned the bigger picture which will be achieved as a result of transparent and accurate census results.

Fig: 1.1 Some examples regarding social, political and economic issues which require statistical date through census for policy making and implementation