KARACHI: The second phase of the ongoing census began in Sindh on Tuesday with thousands of enumerators, escorted by security personnel, counting houses in those parts of the province which had not been mapped in the first phase.

A spokesperson for the provincial census commission said except for the covered areas — Karachi’s six districts, Hyderabad and Ghotki districts and Sehwan taluka of Jamshoro district — the entire province would be covered in the second phase.

After completing a house count, enumerators would start a head count on April 28 to complete the process by May 26, he said.

LARKANA: The census process in Larkana district was kicked off with 2,509 enumerators assisted by 118 charge superintendents and 543 circle superintendents starting a house count.

Escorted by army and police personnel, enumerators visited streets, writing number on each residential unit within their assigned areas.

The divisional administration has kept 10 per cent reserve staff which could be posted if the need arises, sources in the commissioner’s office said.

A security plan was laid down for Larkana division comprising Lar­kana, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Shik­ar­pur, Jacobabad and Kandhkot-Kashmore districts.

The census authorities have divided the division into 118 charges, 543 circles and 5,016 blocks. A total of 7,096 police officers and security personnel have been detailed on census duties in the division.

In terms of sensitivity, 209 ‘highly-sensitive’ locations have been put under the ‘A’ category and 41 ‘sensitive’ ones under the ‘B’ category.

Larkana SDM Dr Masood Bhutto told Dawn that the house count would continue for three days after which head count would be completed by May 14.

KHAIRPUR: The house count in all eight talukas of Khairpur district got under way on Tuesday as 900 enumerators, along with policemen and army soldiers, started marking houses.

The district has been divided in 48 charges, 187 circles and 1,798 blocks.

While marking the houses, enumerators were handing over census forms to residents so that they could fill details of family members with their vital information.

Control rooms have been set up at the district and taluka levels.

MIRPURKHAS: Several thousand enumerators and security personnel started a house count across Mirpurkhas division on Tuesday in the second phase of the national census.

Activists of various political parties, nationalist groups and NGOs were seen keenly assisting and cooperating with the teams visiting their respective areas.

A total of 831 vehicles have been arranged for use of the census teams in the division comprising Mirpur­khas, Umerkot and Thar­par­kar districts.

According to sources, 2,156 policemen have been detailed for census duties, 990 of them being on security assignments.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2017