Pakistan started its Sixth Decennial Population and Housing Census on Wednesday — the largest in the history of the country. More than 200,000 army personnel and 91,000 civilians will complete the tedious exercise of going door-to-door in 63 districts across the country counting heads and much more. The results of the 70-day-long census are expected to be astonishing as the census, which the state is bound to hold every 10 years, is being conducted after a yawning gap of 19 years due to political bickering. The fifth and last census was taken in 1998, while the first census was conducted in 1951.
Fast-growing Pakistan is the sixth most populous country in the world, with an estimated population of 200 million people. The census is likely to change the political and socioeconomic dimensions in the country as the count will be the basis for revising political boundaries and finances. The count will also give a clearer picture about religious minority numbers in the Muslim-majority country, as well as numbering the transsexual population for the first time.
The census is considered to be one of the basic elements for judicious distribution of resources, even representation in parliament, electoral processes, tax collection, tackling civic issues, including growing urbanisation and evaluation of resources for infrastructure development. It is also a vital tool for distribution of funds, allocation of quota in federal jobs and for planning and research. The government must ensure strict monitoring of data collection and transparency of results for the country’s development, unity of federation, social harmony and equitable sharing of resources among the provinces. Above all, changing needs of citizens depend upon census results.
