PBS recommends to hold Population Census in Sept this year or March 2015
HunzaNews February 28th, 2014.
Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has recommended to the Federal Government for holding 6th National Population Census, either in September or October this year or conduct it in March 2015, across the country. The PBS informed Senate Standing Committee of Finance, Economic Affairs and Statistics which met here under chairmanship of Senator Ms. Nasreen Jalil. The meeting was also attended by Senators Illyas Ahmed Bilour,Usman Saifullah Khan, Islamuddin Sheikh, Sardar Fatah Muhammad Muhammad Hassani, Syeda Sughra Imam and Muhammad Hamayun Khan Mandokhel. It discussed the role and responsibilities of PBS and population censusorganization, methodology for collecting data from various sectors and collaboration for funding with organizationwith different international organizations working under the United Nations.
Asif Bajwa apprised the Senate body about the functions vis a vis performance of his organization and methodology for holding of the national population census in the country.
He told the meeting that before 2011, the PBS was working as an autonomous body with its four wings/departments.
He further informed that Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Economic Affairs recommended that a single organization should be established by merging all the three department into a single entity in order to deal with the matters of statistics.
The wings, he said, included Federal Bureau of Statistics, Population Census Organization , Agriculture organization and the technical wings.
He said objective of the organization was to establish a system that ensure reliable, impartial and authentic information/data to the general public without any government influence.
He said that the PBS is managed by a an independent Governing Council with eleven members under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Finance.
He told the Senate body that out of eleven members, majority represents the private sector.
He told the meeting that before 2011, the PBS was working as an autonomous body with its four wings/departments.
He further informed that Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Economic Affairs recommended that a single organization should be established by merging all the three department into a single entity in order to deal with the matters of statistics.
The wings, he said, included Federal Bureau of Statistics, Population Census Organization , Agriculture organization and the technical wings.
He said objective of the organization was to establish a system that ensure reliable, impartial and authentic information/data to the general public without any government influence.
He said that the PBS is managed by a an independent Governing Council with eleven members under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Finance.
He told the Senate body that out of eleven members, majority represents the private sector.
The Senate Standing Committee asked the PBS to take care of the provincial quota while appointing the member of the governing council.
Senator Hamayun Khan Mandokhel observed that how its is possible to maintain the impartiality in the presence of Chairman from the federal government which was also supported by Senator Sugra Imam.
He said that Chairman should not be from the federal government.
Senator Islamuddin Sheikh said that for this purpose change in the Constitution would be mandatory.
Secretary Finance Dr. Waqar Masood Khan clarified that the mandate of the Council was to make projects, budget and collect other information and data and there was less interference of the Finance Minister in the Councils affairs.
Senator Illayas Bilour said that in the next meeting the Committee should be informed about the strength of the labour force in 1990 and its present status.
Senator Sugra Imam said that in the year 2012, a primary data was collected and huge amount was spent from the national exchequer but its results were not made public.
Highlighting the programme for the 6th national census process, Asif Bajwa said that blocks have been established across the country and each block comprises 200 to 250 houses.
He told the meeting that for holding census there were total 152465 blocks across the country, out of which Khyberpakhtunkhwa (KPK) has 19131 blocks, Punjab 77829, FATA 3799, Sind 36895, Balochistan 9683, Azad Khasmir 3966 and Gilgit Baltistan have 1212 blocks.
Sardar Fateh Muhammad Hassani said that large number of foreigners including from Afghanistan, are living in the country.
Asif Bajwa told the Senate body that data of foreign refugees is available with NADRA and not with FBS.
He demanded that registration of the Afghan refugees and data should be collected from the NADRA and also directed that a NADRA representative should also be invited in the next meeting.
He informed the Senate that United Nation has provided US $ 4.88 million as foreign aid for the refugees since 2005.
The meeting was also attended by Federal Secretary Finance Dr. Waqar Masood Khan ,Secretary Statistic Division Rukhsan Shaheen, Chief Statistician Asif Bajwa, Joint Secretary Statistics Samina Hassan and other senior government officials.App
He said that Chairman should not be from the federal government.
Senator Islamuddin Sheikh said that for this purpose change in the Constitution would be mandatory.
Secretary Finance Dr. Waqar Masood Khan clarified that the mandate of the Council was to make projects, budget and collect other information and data and there was less interference of the Finance Minister in the Councils affairs.
Senator Illayas Bilour said that in the next meeting the Committee should be informed about the strength of the labour force in 1990 and its present status.
Senator Sugra Imam said that in the year 2012, a primary data was collected and huge amount was spent from the national exchequer but its results were not made public.
Highlighting the programme for the 6th national census process, Asif Bajwa said that blocks have been established across the country and each block comprises 200 to 250 houses.
He told the meeting that for holding census there were total 152465 blocks across the country, out of which Khyberpakhtunkhwa (KPK) has 19131 blocks, Punjab 77829, FATA 3799, Sind 36895, Balochistan 9683, Azad Khasmir 3966 and Gilgit Baltistan have 1212 blocks.
Sardar Fateh Muhammad Hassani said that large number of foreigners including from Afghanistan, are living in the country.
Asif Bajwa told the Senate body that data of foreign refugees is available with NADRA and not with FBS.
He demanded that registration of the Afghan refugees and data should be collected from the NADRA and also directed that a NADRA representative should also be invited in the next meeting.
He informed the Senate that United Nation has provided US $ 4.88 million as foreign aid for the refugees since 2005.
The meeting was also attended by Federal Secretary Finance Dr. Waqar Masood Khan ,Secretary Statistic Division Rukhsan Shaheen, Chief Statistician Asif Bajwa, Joint Secretary Statistics Samina Hassan and other senior government officials.App
