Pilot project for 7th Population & Housing Census 2022 will begin from 15th May this year, Senate told

ISLAMABAD, Jan 07 (SABAH): The Senate was informed on Friday that a pilot project for 7th Population and Housing Census 2022 will begin from 15th May this year.

Responding to a question during Question Hour in the Upper House on Friday, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Engineer Ali Muhammad Khan said the complete field operation will be carried out from first of August this year.

He said it is the PTI government, which is going to conduct a transparent census after a gap of just five years for the first time in the history of Pakistan. He assured the House that state of the art methodology will be used to ensure accuracy in the Population and Housing Census.

Replying to another question, Ali Muhammad Khan said the government is importing wheat and sugar to ensure their smooth supply at reasonable prices. He said the government is also working on maintaining strategic reserves of wheat, sugar, ghee and pulses.

Talking about relief measures, the Minister of State said it has been decided to release wheat at the rate of 1950 rupees per 40 kilograms to ease out its price and ensure smooth supply in the market and flour mills would provide a 20 kg bag for 1,100 rupees. He said all provincial governments are releasing wheat at the government-determined price. He said sugar price has been set at 90 rupees a kilo. Besides, cash subsidies are also being provided to the poor people on essential food items.

Ali Muhammad Khan said the government is implementing the National Agriculture Emergency Programme amounting to 277 billion rupees to uplift agriculture and livestock sector on modern lines and to enhance production level of major and minor crops.

The House started discussion on “The Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2021” to make recommendations to the National Assembly on the Money Bill.

Taking part in the debate, members from the treasury benches said the bill will help document the economy and will have negligible effect on the poor people as only luxury items have been taxed in this bill, whereas the opposition members believed that the bill will enhance inflation in the country.

Those, who participated in the discussion, include Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, Hidayutllah, Rana Maqbool Ahmed Khan, Ijaz Ahmed Chaudhry, Faisal Javed Khan, Barrister Waleed Iqbal, and Maulana Faiz Muhammad. The House will now meet on Monday at three p.m