ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal said that next general election in country would be held on basis of data compiled through 7th Population and Housing Census (digital census) in October 2023.

Addressing inaugural ceremony of training of master trainers for 7th Population and Housing Census, he said that government would spend about Rs 34 billion on this exercise of vital importance that would help in framing economic policies and ensure equitable distribution of resources among all stakeholders for development of country.

He said that government is providing Rs 13.5 billion to National Database and Registration Authority which would arrange digital solutions, adding that it would be first digital census that would help swift completion of process.

He said that an offline data collection system would also be available for areas out of internet coverage, adding that this census would also determine whether population was on an increasing or decreasing trend. Ahsan Iqbal said that Pakistan was ranked among rapidly population-growing countries.

Published in The Daily National Courier, December, 07 2022

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