CCI inconclusive on new census schedule

ISLAMABAD: The much-anticipated first meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) faced a postponement of a decisive verdict on whether the upcoming elections will be based on the 2017 census or a freshly conducted one this year.

The high-level meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, delved into the implications of adopting a new digital census methodology.

Sources privy to the matter said dignitaries from various provinces and federal ministries converged to address this critical matter.

PDM govt mulling ‘redistribution’ of NA seats sans constitutional amendment

Among those in attendance were Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, caretaker Chief Ministers of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Railway Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Federal Minister Naveed Qamar, and Federal Secretaries representing relevant ministries.

However, the proceedings faced a hiccup as Balochistan’s Chief Minister flight delay hindered his presence at the momentous meeting.

During the session, the Ministry of Planning took the stage to brief the Council on Common Interests about the proposed Digital Census and presented the findings from both the Digital Census and Household Census.

According to media reports, Chief Minister Sindh expressed his approval for the census, and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) granted the authority of the census to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, leaving the final approval pending Chief Minister Balochistan’s arrival.

Consequently, the matter was adjourned to await the input of the absent dignitary.

Information Minister Maryum Aurangzeb also confirmed in her media talk that the meeting has been postponed for a couple of hours and would reconvene upon the arrival of Chief Minister Balochistan.

CCI meets tomorrow: likely to approve 2023 Digital Census