Upper, lower Kohistan included in 2nd phase of census

MANSEHRA: The federal government has included upper and lower Kohistan in the second phase of house counting and population census scheduled to begin from April 25.

“We have finalised preparations for census in upper and lower Kohistan but all activities would be monitored through a single control room set up in Dassu,” Mohammad Asif, deputy commissioner, Upper Kohistan, told reporters on Wednesday.

The local government elections couldn’t be held in both districts because of its bifurcation issue but the federal government has included it into second phase of the census. Asif also made it clear that Kolai-Palas district, which was approved by provincial cabinet in its meeting earlier this month but has not yet notified, would be considered as the territory of Kohistan.

The official said a control room from where the entire census activities would be monitored was setup in Dassu and staff was posted there. He said that Kohistan was divided into 1,151 blocks and 244 circles for census.The official said 1,000 enumerators and the same number of army personnel would take part in the census.