The counting game

The federal government has approved a plan to carry out the Population and Housing Census across the country in March 2016. The crucial exercise, to be carried out with the assistance of the armed forces, has many implications, which is the primary reason why it has been delayed well beyond the legally mandated period of ten years, with governments unwilling to deal with the political ramifications involved in a head count. The last population census was conducted in 1998, also under a PML-N government. Among other factors, the census determines seat allocations for provinces in the National Assembly, with population size used to fix the numbers, and also the funds allocated to provinces from the federal divisible tax pool. The population count is also key to delimiting constituencies, and planning in almost all sectors. The statistics from Pakistan have been questioned at various forums due to the lack of a census exercise.
Key areas of political sensitivity include the demographic composition of Balochistan and also of Karachi. It is also anticipated that there will be some change in NA seats. A census is essential to settle a whole range of issues, and the news that it will go ahead is something to be welcomed. The massive exercise, already approved by the Council for Common Interests, is to cost Rs14.5 billion, while an apex committee to oversee it has been proposed. It is essential the census be conducted in as transparent a manner as possible. Past precedent would suggest that we can expect controversy. But all these forces must be persuaded to cooperate and appreciate that we simply cannot continue to stumble along without accurate data about the size of our population, its make-up and its distribution. The government has taken a bold step forward by moving on with a matter that should never in the first place have been delayed so long. Given the realities, it would now do well to attempt to build consensus so that the marathon head count, when it goes ahead 11 months from now, can proceed as smoothly as possible. Given that this census will form our foundation for at least the next decade after 2016, it is important that it be conducted with as little controversy as is possible.