LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Finance, Dr Ayesha Ghaus has said that after a long period of 18 years, holding a national census in a peaceful environment and announcement of initial results is a good omen for the country. The finance minister expressed these views while addressing a meeting held to review the results of the latest census on Thursday.
The incumbent government, all concerned civil and military institutions deserve appreciation, she said, adding that at a time when the country was facing internal and external challenges, starting of a sensitive process like census was a difficult undertaking which was made possible by all stakeholders efficiently.
Provincial Minister for Planning & Development Nadeem Kamran, P&D Secretary Iftikhar Ali Sahu, Local Government Secretary Aslam Kamboh, Finance Special Secretary Saif Ullah Dogar and others were present on the occasion.
Iftikhar Ali Sahu informed the meeting that Punjab CM has constituted a committee headed by provincial finance minister for reviewing the initial results of the National Population Census 2017.
Aslam Kamboh explained the rural and urban limits in the report of statistical department and informed the meeting that the impression given in the recent report of census that the ratio of increase of population in Punjab is maximum but it is not true as the ratio of increase in population has reduced this year as compared to census 1981 and 1998, while an increase has been observed in KPK and Baluchistan.
Dr Mumtaz Chaudhary informed the meeting about expected effects on National Finance Commission Award, job quota and other services in the light of initial results of the census.
Dr Ayesha Ghaus said that several points including the standard of distribution of rural and urban population, status in the population of refugees and method of conducting the census, can only be discussed after detailed results.
