ISLAMABAD (INP): Federal Finance Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar Thursday said he was pleased to note that a team of international observers had expressed satisfaction over the census operation that had now entered in its second phase, adding to the credibility and transparency of the drive. He was chairing a briefing session to seek an update on the second phase of Population & Housing Census – 2017.
Chief Statistician, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) apprised the meeting that second phase of the census which commenced on April 25 would cover 88 districts throughout the country and continue till May 24. In the second phase twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi along with federally administered tribal areas (FATA) would also be covered. The second phase, he said was progressing smoothly and in accordance with the schedule.
The Chief Statistician added that all filled in census documents in respect of 63 districts covered in the first phase of the census had been safely received at the PBS headquarters.
The meeting was further informed that the government had already released the total allocated budget i.e. Rs 18.5 billion for the census process.
Finance Minister Ishaq Dar appreciated and thanked the Provincial Chief Secretaries, armed forces personnel and members of the law enforcement agencies for their cooperation and support in successful completion of the first phase of the census.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, Khawaja Zaheer Ahmed, Secretary Statistics Division, Chief Statistician PBS and senior officials of the Finance Division attended the meeting. INP