ISLAMABAD: The government on Wednesday decided during a long-awaited meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) to hold a fresh population census in March 2016, with the help of the armed forces.

According to an official statement issued after the meeting, it was “decided that [the] sixth population census would be held in Mar 2016, with the support of armed forces as was done in the 1998 census, and that housing and population censuses would be held at the same time. The cost would be shared by the provinces through the divisible pool”.

Under the PPP government, a housing census was conducted with the intent of holding a national population census, but the former opposition party, PML-N, contested its results. According to the previous housing census, certain areas in Karachi and interior Sindh showed a marked increase in housing units, while the number of units in Lahore showed a negative trend, which was a cause of concern for the PML-N.

Long-awaited meeting examines proposal for Halal food authority

“Therefore, the CCI has decided to hold both housing and population censuses side by side,” a government official told Dawn.

On the possible impact of the population census on future general elections, all the provinces agreed to first hold the census which was has been due since 1998. It can be decided later how to translate the census results when will it effects on the demarcation of constituencies and distribution of seats among the provinces on the basis of population, according to a government source privy to the meeting.

The CCI also gave its approval of the draft bill for the establishment of Pakistan Halal Food Authority. The meeting was informed that this would allow Pakistan to benefit from the huge potential that existed in the international market of Halal food business worth trillions of dollars, the bulk of which was being taken by non-Muslim countries.

The scope of the Halal food sector covers a wide range of items such as food, pharmaceuticals, health, food supplements and toiletries etc. Currently, Pakistan is taking only a nominal share of this huge export potential, due to the absence of a recognised, legal authority at the national level dealing with the Halal sector, the meeting was told.

The PM expressed dissatisfaction over the working of regulatory authorities which were created in view of the privatisation of government entities. He directed Nepra to streamline its procedures at the earliest to facilitate energy businesses. Nepra’s annual report for 2012-13 and the State of Industry Report 2013 was presented before the CCI. Pursuant to Section 42 of the Nepra Act, it is mandatory for the authority to submit its annual report for the following financial year and a State of Industry Report for the following calendar year to the CCI.

The meeting was told that proceedings on the Pakistan Energy Efficiency and Energy Conservation Bill 2014 had been completed and it would soon be presented in parliament.

The CCI approved the Pakistan Oil (Refining, Blending, Transportation Storage and Marketing) Rules, which will repeal some of the existing 1971 rules. The new rules cover all functions assigned to Ogra under the ordinance in respect of the mid and downstream oil sector and were prepared in consultation with all stakeholders, including the provinces.

The meeting approved amendments in the Petroleum Policies of 2009 and 2012 and the Model Petroleum Concession Agreement.

During the meeting, provinces were directed to frame rules and complete other formalities at the earliest for absorption of federal employees transferred to provincial governments in the wake of 18th constitutional Amendment. The minister for finance informed the meeting that public debt has been brought down from 64 per cent to 62pc in less than two years and by June 2016 it would be brought down to 60pc as required under the law.

An item related to short supplies of water in Pat feeder and Kirthar Canals was deferred due to the non-availability of Balochistan Chief Minister Dr Abdul Malik, who is out of the country and could not attend the CCI meeting.

Regarding the construction of Chashma Right Bank Canal it was agreed that the Ministry of Water and Power would discuss modalities with the government of KP. Before the CCI meeting, Prime Minister held meeting with Chief Ministers of Punjab, Sindh and KP in which matters of mutual interest came under discussion.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play