Though Sindh government and MQM-P have raised their concerns over results of the National Population Census (NPC) 2017, the Punjab government has constituted a committee to review the initial results of 6th census and prepare recommendations after technical analysis of facts and figures of National Statistics Institution.
The committee headed by finance minister includes Minister for Planning & Local Government, Chairman and secretaries of departments concerned, and non-government members of National Finance Commission. The committee will submit its recommendations in five days.
Addressing the review meeting, Provincial Minister for Finance, Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha said that after a long period of 18 years, holding national census in a peaceful environment and announcement of initial results is a good omen. Present government, all concerned civil and military institutions deserve appreciation.
She said at a time when the country was facing internal and external challenges, starting of a sensitive process like census was a difficult phase which was made possible by all stakeholders efficiently.
Secretary Local Government explained rural and urban limits in the report of statistical department and informed the meeting that impression given in the recent report of census that ratio of increase of population in Punjab is maximum but it is not true as ratio of increase in population has reduced this time as compared to census of 1981and 1998 while an increase has been observed in population of KPK and Balochistan.
Director Punjab Economic Research Institute Dr Mumtaz Chaudhary informed the meeting about expected affects on National Finance Commission Award, job quota and other services in the light of initial results of national census 2017.
Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha said that several points including the standard of distribution of rural and urban population, status in the population of refuges and way of census which can only be discussed after detailed results and it will be before time to give any opinion in this regard.
She directed Secretary Local Government and Director National Statistics Department and Director Punjab Economic Research Institute to come to next meeting after complete analysis report and suggestions so that they can be discussed from every angle.