Peshawar: Addressing a seminar organized by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) Peshawar on “National Census 2023 and its impact on Khyber Pakhtunkhwa”, experts and leaders of various political parties have expressed concern by saying that the population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been shown to be less than the actual population in the census 2023, which will not only affect the representation of the province in the form of a reduction in the seats of the province in the National Assembly, but the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s share in the distribution of resources based on population in the NFC award will also have to be borne in the form of a loss of Rs.2 trillion.
IRS Chairman Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Khalil, former senior provincial minister of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Inayatullah Khan, former member of provincial assembly of Pakistan People’s Party Ahmed Khan Kundi, former member of provincial assembly of Awami National Party Salahuddin, Statistician Javed Khalil and Prof. Dr. Fazl ur Rehman Qureshi spoke at the seminar.
The speakers said that the new census will have a negative impact on KP as the population growth of the province has been shown to be lower than the average population growth of the country while some districts have recorded a decrease in population. They said that the Council of Interests (CCI) is incomplete and the caretaker government does not have the power to approve the census results. The speakers felt that the caretaker governments of KP and Punjab had violated their mandate and constitution by approving the census results while the CCI had no right to approve the results. They urged the political forces to, regardless of political affiliations, raise your voice for the rights of the province.
Inayatullah Khan said that there is anxiety among the people of the province over the results of the census. Millions of people belonging to KP are living abroad and the rules should be relaxed to enumerate them. The JI leader said that in several areas of the province, the number of families has decreased instead of increasing, which is incomprehensible and worrisome. He said that the delimitation of the constituencies of the National Assembly will be done on the basis of population, due to which there is a serious fear of reduction in the seats of KP, especially the merged tribal districts. He added that 82 percent of the National Finance Commission (NFC) shares are distributed on the basis of population and the alleged lapses in the recent census will hurt KP a lot.
Ahmad Khan Kundi said that the census is very important for policy making and planning as most of the resources are distributed on the basis of population. The PPP leader said that ignoring the results of the recent census would be tantamount to criminal negligence. He said questions were being raised on the digital census as more families than individuals were recorded in KP. He said that he will raise this long-standing problem of the province on every platform, regardless of party affiliation. Aham Kundi said that the tragedy of East Pakistan also happened as a result of imbalance in population and resources, but unfortunately, we have not learned from the past. Salahuddin said that injustice and abuses have been happening to KP and this process continues till date. He said that the province is not being given its constitutional rights and the ANP will not remain silent on this injustice. This important issue will be raised strongly in the meetings of the working committee and the provincial council.
Speaking at the seminar, Javed Khalil said that it is surprising that even in the 70s, tribal districts had six seats in the National Assembly and now six seats have been allocated for them in 2023, which is unbelievable. He said that on the one hand, developing countries like India, Malaysia and Korea also give special importance to census and distribution of resources on the basis of population, but unfortunately, here in Pakistan it is done behind closed doors in such meetings whose constitutionality is doubtful. He said that the interim governments do not have the authority to decide on this important issue related to the fate of the people of the provinces. He said that the seats of Balochistan have increased from seven to seventeen since the 70s until now, while the seats of tribal districts have decreased from twelve to just six, which is open injustice to Pakhtuns.
Dr. Iqbal Khalil said that KP has shown the lowest population growth rate. He said that the difference between the National Assembly seats in KP and Sindh is only one. He said that in the same way, one less seat will be made for women from the province. Six National Assembly seats taken from KP will be given to Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan. Each province will get two seats. This is not acceptable to KP and there is a need to raise a united voice against it. He said that IRS is the only authentic think tank in the province which has been highlighting the problems of the province and the entire region for the past several years and these activities will be expanded in the near future.
