ISLAMABAD, August 25(APP): Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chaired a meeting of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) at Prime Minister’s Office here Friday.
Provisional report of the 6th Population and Housing Census, carried out across the country from 15th March to 24th May 2017, was presented to the CCI.
According to the provisional figures, the current population of the country stands at 207.77 million as compared to 132.35 million in 1998. The annual growth rate has been calculated at 2.40 percent.
Provisional figures for Punjab 110.01 million (2.13 percent annual growth rate), Sindh 47.89 million (2.41 percent annual growth rate), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 30.52 million (2.89 percent annual growth rate) and Balochistan 12.34 million (3.37 percent annual growth rate).
The report informs that urban population in Pakistan has increased from 32.5 percent in 1998 to 36.4 percent in 2017.
The Prime Minister appreciated the efforts of Pak Army, law enforcing agencies, Police, district administration and staff of PBS for completing the Census 2017. The Prime Minister also lauded the brave sacrifices of Shuhuda of Lahore blast and ten enumerators who lost their lives during the census operation.
The Prime Minister urged the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics’ staff and the Ministry of Statistics to ensure early completion of final figures so that economic and social planning of the Country can be brought to scientific footing.
Matters pertaining to Higher Education Commission and similar bodies in post-Eighteenth Amendment scenario were also discussed during the meeting.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need for greater efforts by all the provinces towards standardization and improvement of infrastructure of the educational institution so as to improve the quality of higher education in the country and to bring it at par with the international standards.
Inquiry into corruption charges of Kacchi Canal was also discussed by CCI. The Prime Minister observed that transparency and accountability should be strictly ensured in all public projects. He directed that implementation report into the findings of the Inquiry be completed by 15th September and presented before next CCI meeting.
Other outstanding issues between the provinces including Net Hydel Profit, National Water Policy and import of Liquidified Natural Gas (LNG) were also discussed during the meeting.
APP/hamza/anm/ VNS Islamabad
