Tag: Digital Census

  • ECP awaits census data to determine election schedule

    ECP awaits census data to determine election schedule

    Following the dissolution of the National Assembly, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has been granted a 90-day window to organize general elections. Within this period, the ECP is also required to carry out the process of constituency delimitation based on the digital census. However, census results necessary for this task have not yet been provided to the ECP.

    Sources within the ECP have confirmed to geo.tv that they are still awaiting data for 186,509 census blocs and are yet to establish a timeline for the constitutionally mandated delimitation process. Although they have already received district-wise data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the data required for delimitation is still pending.

    It has been revealed that the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) is expected to compile and share the data of these blocs with the ECP in the coming week. Following this, the ECP will need a minimum of four months to carry out the delimitation process and address any complaints that may arise.

    The Council of Common Interests (CCI), a constitutional body, approved the digital census results on August 5, which marked a significant step. The ECP held its inaugural formal meeting on this matter. With the census phase now complete, the focus shifts to the subsequent step of delimitation.

    While the ECP has already consulted its legal team and received a briefing, the completion of data provision from the bureau is awaited. This data is essential for the ECP to establish a timeline for fulfilling its legal obligations prior to conducting the elections.

    The passage of the census results has sparked speculation, particularly within political and constitutional circles. In relation to the National Assembly, officially dissolved on August 10, triggering the countdown for the constitutional requirement of delimitation. This process encompasses 90 days, with an additional 30 days allocated for addressing related complaints and objections.

    A senior official stressed the significance of time, stating that if the complete census results are provided to the Election Commission by August 15 or 16 (Tuesday or Wednesday), the commission would be left with 85 or 86 days to carry out the delimitation process.

    Originally reported by Mumtaz Alvi

  • PM Shehbaz chairs CCI meeting to discuss 2023 census

    PM Shehbaz chairs CCI meeting to discuss 2023 census

    Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is presiding over a meeting of the Council of Common Interest (CCI) to decide the destiny of the 2023 census. There is a disagreement between the coalition partners on the issue.
    All of the chief ministers and senior members of the federal cabinet reportedly attend the council’s crucial meeting.

    According to reports, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has informed the federal government that all formalities have been fulfilled and census results are ready for CCI approval.

    Elections would likely be postponed by a few months if the CCI adopts the census findings since the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would need more time to redo the delimitation exercise.

    According to the legislation, the ECP is required to organise elections based on new data if a new census is announced.
    It is important to note that the National Assembly will be prematurely dissolved on August 9 — three days before its term ends — by the ruling coalition, giving the electoral body 90 days to hold elections.

  • Sampling campaign to monitor drug addiction among students launched in Lahore

    Sampling campaign to monitor drug addiction among students launched in Lahore

    The District Administration has initiated a campaign of random sampling in the provincial metropolis to monitor drug addiction among students. According to Deputy Commissioner Rafia Haider, a total of 215 samples were collected from public and private schools and sent to the health department for analysis.

    The samples were taken from various educational institutions, with 50 from Tehsil City, 50 from Shalimar, 50 from Raiwind, 52 from Model Town, and 13 from Cantt.

    Haider has directed ADC (G) Zeeshan Ranjha to ensure strict monitoring and better coordination. She also informed that an awareness lecture was conducted during the sampling process, and drug dealers were under surveillance, apart from random sampling. In addition, monitoring of shops around educational institutions was being carried out, and any suspicious activity should be reported immediately.

    DC Lahore expressed that the young generation is the future and should be safeguarded from drug addiction, which poses a threat to both life and the country’s future. Meanwhile, the District Administration Lahore was actively preparing for the seventh digital census in the city. The DC chaired a meeting where it was reported that thousands of tablets were being distributed for the census, with 1271 tablets already distributed in Tehsil City, 168 in Cantt, 253 in Cantonment, 808 in Tehsil Model Town, 725 in Shalimar, and 382 in Raiwind.

    The DC was informed that tablet distribution was completed 100 per cent in Lahore Cantonment, 92 per cent in Raiwind Tehsil, 86 per cent in City, 85 per cent in Walton Cantonment, 71 per cent in Model Town, and 75 per cent in Lahore Cantt and Shalimar, respectively. All necessary steps were being taken to ensure a 100 per cent success rate for the online census, with officers evaluating performance in the field themselves. The concerned officers were directed to speed up the delivery of the remaining modern tablets.