Better late than never: 6th Census in Pakistan
By Shabeer Ahmed
It was a suo moto notice in July 2016, that was later dismissed, from the Supreme Court of Pakistan that pushed the Nawaz government to hold the 6th census after a delay of eight years.
As much as the exercise is welcomed, it clashes with the busiest period of academic calendar. The provincial education department rescheduled exams for classes nine and ten. Instead of conducting them in one go, as is usually done, they will be split in two phases — students taking the exams in the general and arts groups appeared in the first phase (from March 28 to April 15) and those in the science group appeared in the second phase (from April 15 to May 3). Intermediate exams were also pushed a bit forward.
Most of the enumerators are teachers who were not asked but told to get along with their designated tasks since it was their national duty griped about the reception and difficulties they faced because of less manpower.
“We were told that one block has 250 houses but we are finding that there are 500 to 700 houses in one block.”
There were plenty concerns and confusions between provincial government and the PBS officials, but thankfully the foreign observers have given the process its approval.
The census team comprises two people — a civil enumerator and a military person. Each team has been assigned two blocks. A block has 250 to 300 houses on average. Enumerators carried out house listing in the first three days. From April 28 onwards, the headcount will begin for 10 days. A day will be spent counting homeless people, and another day to return the data collected.
Census teams will fill out Form-2 on the spot. The form carries 25 questions, 12 of which deal with name, sex, age, marital status, religion, mother tongue, nationality, literacy, level of education, employment status, status of CNIC, etc. The next 13 questions deal with ownership of the house, construction details, facilities like internet, use of TV and radio and people living abroad for more than six months, etc.
Incidents of terrorism faced by the census team, in Lahore and in Balochistan, only brought determined responses for the completion of the process. Chief Census Commissioner Asif Bajwa said the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) had verified data of 3.7 million people from the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra). He also said the census would cover all people living in the country irrespective of their ethnicity or nationality. Foreign nationals would also be registered. He said Afghans would be counted as foreigners.
But sadly, this intensely draining exercise defeats its purpose for being only a nationwide headcount. The failure to document necessary socioeconomic data demonstrates that the humongous and financially draining exercise defeats the purpose of census.
Census are currently in their last phase and are expected to conclude by May 24.
