As Pakistan\u2019s sixth census kicks off, it has become apparent that the term might be a little over ambitious. Better, perhaps, to refer to it as a prolonged 70-day exercise in national head counting. The initial signs are somewhat worrying. The government is apparently at odds over even agreeing upon the final budget cost for the entire procedure. Projections currently range from Rs 14 billion up to Rs 30 billion. Give or take a few billion here and there. How, then, are we expected to have any confidence in its recording accurately the number of citizens?
\nFrom the offset all indications point to unresolved issues yet to be tackled. There is to be no recording of internal migration patterns. There is no sense in this omission. Especially considering the ongoing spotlight on Afghan refugees. This has given false credence to the prevailing consensus in Sindh and Balochistan that dictates putting the census on hold until all Afghan refugees have been forced to return \u2018home\u2019. The MQM has tabled a resolution before the NA towards this end. While it may be true that some Afghans are known to carry fake ID or to have procured identity cards illegally \u2014 responsibility rests with the state and its treatment of the Afghan community over the last three decades. That aside, quite simply, the Pakistani state has had the last nine years to confront this problem.
\nThat is hasn\u2019t throws into question its degrading profiling of Afghans, including the issuance of additional documentation to allow them freedom of movement through certain areas. This omission also raises question marks over the status of Internally Displaced Persons \u2014 who have fled either devastating natural disasters or anti-terrorism drives \u2014 and the deserved share of allocation resources for their areas of origin. The courts have also directed the authorities to include a separate column for persons with disabilities.
\nThere are, however, a few positives. For the first time there will be a third column for the transgender community. Also, enumerators will be tasked with recording the number of lavatories per household. Given how widespread open-air defecation is in the country, this inclusion is crucial to assessing the well-being children.
\nCensus 2017 will have far reaching consequences for distribution of national revenues, budgetary plans and at the very least availability of reliable data.
\nFor now the government is well advised to take into account directions given by courts across the country and ensure that the census is completed on time without undue omissions and political controversies. The federal government must act in the interest of all federating units of Pakistan and their diverse
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As Pakistan\u2019s sixth census kicks off, it has become apparent that the term might be a little over ambitious. Better, perhaps, to refer to it as a prolonged 70-day exercise in national head counting. The initial signs are somewhat worrying. The government is apparently at odds over even agreeing upon the final budget cost for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-14746","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-editorial"},"yoast_head":"\n