PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao has called for the holding of an ‘accurate and impartial’ population census in the country saying this will help get correct demographic indicators for national development and true representation of the provinces in the national mainstream.

In a statement issued here, Mr. Sherpao complained that unlike other provinces, a different mechanism for population census has been adopted for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that would cause misgivings and apprehensions among the people of the province.

“Inaccurate, politicised and unreliable population census will create complications. The process will lose the people’s trust if it is not carried out honestly and with national zeal,” he said.

The QWP chairman said the federal government should take the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on board about the whole exercise of population census as a lack of coordination between the federation and the province would be detrimental to the interests of the country.

Asks centre to take KP on board about exercise

He said the population census was of vital importance for the allocation of resources and representation of the people in the elected bodies and services.

“It (population census) is a parameter and yardstick to evolve national strategy according to the aspirations of the people,” he said.

Mr. Sherpao said the collection of incorrect and bogus data would be a great injustice to the people and therefore, such a thing should be discouraged to ensure judicious distribution of resources and services to federating units.

He said the provinces should be consulted by the centre in the formulation of reliable methodology for population census.

The QWP chairman said KP would bear all expenses and therefore, its role couldn’t be undermined and undervalued in the exercise.

He said the federal government should not bypass and ignore KP on the occasion of the house listing and population counting.

Mr. Sherpao said the population census would help mitigate the problems of Pakhtuns by ensuring judicious provision of seats in assemblies and other institutions to them according to their population.

He asked the federal government to take the KP government into confidence on the population census to successfully achieve its goals.

“The population census is the only effective way to determine resources for an area on its base. KP is already facing many problems due to negligence on part of the centre and if the demographic data is not collected honestly, it will create more problems,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2017