Census in Khyber Agency begins today

LANDIKOTAL: Authorities have asked Khyber Agency residents to cooperate with the staff for the census starting today (Tuesday) after almost two decades.

Speaking to The News on Monday, Political Agent Khalid Mehmood said that they have divided Khyber Agency into 760 blocks, 25 circles to be headed by six officials in-charge.

He said that 45 supervisors have also been hired for the whole field process. He said they have established 454 blocks in Bara, 136 in Landikotal and 80 in Jamrud tehsils to easily monitor the survey.

The official said that 341 enumerators were assigned to conduct door-to-door survey and collect accurate data of all residents. He said that machine readable forms have been developed to avoid errors and omissions.

The officials said that they would work on zero-tolerance if any of the staff was found guilty of ignoring the real cause of the census.He said 581 Khassadar and Levies personnel while 1750 personnel of the Frontier Corps (FC) and Pakistan Army would provide security and logistic support to the census teams operating in the month long survey in Bara, Jamrud and Landikotal.

He said they have also taken extra security steps in some sensitive areas of Bara and Tirah areas to avoid any mishap.The official said the survey teams had been directed to work from 7:30am to 4:30pm every day for one month.

He said Rs19 million have been allocated for logistic expenses while the staff would be paid Rs17 million.He added that they had established a control room and shared its landline telephone numbers, ie 091-9213325 and 091-5606166 among the residents to contact if they have any reservation, complaints and suggestions for a successful exercise of the census.