ISLAMABAD: A number of political parties and ethnic groups attempt to manipulate the census because the demarcation of constituencies is directly linked to the population, the president of the Population Association of Pakistan said on Tuesday, explaining why most political parties would not accept the census results.

Dr Mohammad Nizamuddin was speaking at a dialogue on ‘SDGs and Data’ at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP).

He alleged that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement in Karachi and some parties in interior Sindh and Balochistan would not accept the census results.

“We faced the same complaint after the census held in 1998. However, in India, 20 years ago it was decided to freeze the data of provinces and fix the percentage for allocation of funds etc. We can also take such steps,” he said.

Population association president says civil society can play role in pushing govt to introduce national statistical system

Dr Nizamuddin, who has served in United Nations organisations for 24 years and as the chairman of the Punjab Higher Education Commission, said accurate data cannot be collected unless there were no benefits linked to the census.

“Moreover, most countries have stopped (conducting a) census and they prefer to go for the national statistical system, which provides data on all segments of society: number of people belonging to each occupation, the service they get, tax they pay, etc. However, in Pakistan some elements do not want to generate such data.”

He added: “Nowadays governments can get data through cell phones, as they can easily get information on how much people spend, how people travel, etc. I believe high quality sample surveys are more reliable because they give a correct picture. If we make a national statistical system, we do not have to go for a census.”

In response to a question, he said civil society had an important role in pushing the government to introduce a national statistical system.

He said it was necessary during the census to count all people but in the end those without CNICs could be excluded when policies were made.

In response to a question, Dr Nazimuddin said a number of people who migrated from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas were counted as residents of Peshawar or other cities in the census. He said similar problems were also faced in Egypt, Lebanon and Ethiopia.

He suggested that a robust statistical system be introduced in the country, giving the example of the United States, where such information is collected through mobile phones instead of by sending teams door-to-door.

He also said, in response to a question on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), that it would not be possible to achieve the SDGs because they were ambiguous and suggested that poverty would be eradicated and health facilities provided by 2030 without mentioning a proper line of action.

A participant of the dialogue, Khalid Usman from Fata, said the census would not reflect the accurate number of people.

“I still remember that in the 1998 census, 20,000 people were mentioned in the Bannu frontier region but an organisation I was working for was working with 200,000 people in the area. Moreover, those who have left Fata because of the military operation should also be considered Fata residents because they will return to their native areas,” he said.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2017