ISLAMABAD: The head of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), Asif Bajwa, on Saturday said the government was not bound to hold a census every 10 years. Moreover, instead of a dubious one it would be better not to hold any census at all.

He was speaking at a ‘National Consultation on Census’ organised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) at a local hotel.

The PBS chief said the word census was mentioned twice in the 1973 Constitution but it was not binding that the census should be held after every 10 years.

He said the 10-year-period was an international convention under which Pakistan held the census for many decades. In the first six National Finance Commission (NFC) awards, population was the sole criterion to distribute resources among the provinces.

But in the seventh NFC Award, other factors were also included after which 82pc of the resources were distributed on the basis of population, he said.

“A census was due in 1990 but it was delayed to 1994 and even then it could not be held. Finally, the population counting was carried out in 1998 after involving the army to ensure transparency. Similarly, a decision was taken to hold the census in 2008 and then delayed to 2011 but it could not be held. In 2015, it was decided that a census would be held on the pattern of 1998 but it could not be possible because the army was engaged in security issues.

“We cannot administer polio drops to our children without security. It would be better not to hold a census instead of a doubtful one. In 2011, a house listing was started but two people were killed during the process,” Mr Bajwa said.

He said India froze the 1971 census for the distribution of resources for 30 years and in 2008 extended it for 60 years.

“There are 31 countries such as Afghanistan, Syria and Lebanon where census have been delayed. We have fair estimates for the distribution of resources but still efforts are being made to carry out a population counting,” he said.

But member HRCP Zafarullah Khan said it was the failure of the executive that it needs the army for everything such as during floods, elections etc.

“We need an accurate head count and also need to know about the accurate poverty and literacy rates and other figures. Politicians should take the responsibility of holding the census otherwise it will be held on the orders of the judiciary,” he said.

“Vision 2025 has been made without knowing the exact number of people in the country,” he said.

Chairman Punjab Higher Education Commission Prof Dr Mohammad Nizamuddin stressed the need for strengthening civic agencies to ensure data collection and continued surveys.

“The collective data would be greatly helpful in regional and national planning. Decentralisation is a way of effective service delivery and we need to strengthen institutions,” he said.

Prof Ijaz Khattak of the University of Peshawar said census was necessary for policy making.

“Even a marriage ceremony cannot be organised if the organisers are not sure about the number of participants. At the time of operation Zarb-i-Azb, more people came out of Waziristan compared to the estimates of the government,” he said.

“Moreover, because of the movement of people the demographic composition of cities has changed. We need to know how many people have moved to Islamabad and Karachi from different parts of the country,” he said.

Research consultant Reza Ali said in the censuses held from 1861 to 1961, the citizens were asked about their caste, ethnicity and language.

The participants of the consultation recommended that the government should announce a schedule for holding the census as soon as possible.

Modern technology, methodology and the experience of other countries should be utilised in improving the exercise. Censuses should be held regularly and it should not be politicised.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2016