Syed Ali Shah:
QUETTA: The missing six million population in the Balochistan census report 2023 report sparked an outcry in the province. The political parties, civil society and intelligentia demanded of the federal government and the census commissionarate to include the missing 6 population in the census report 2023.
“This is an injustice with people of Balochistan”, Muhammad Aslam Bhootani, a Member National Assembly (MNA) said. He said the people of Balochistan were already deprived of their rights and now the missing six million population would further deprive them of development and services.
Pakistan’s population was more than 241 million in the census of 2023
As per the Pakistan census 2023 report, the total population of Pakistan has reached 241.4 million 99 thousand 431 while the population growth rate is 2.55 percent. Balochistan’s population has been shown as more than 14.48 million with a growth rate of 3.20. The provincial census commissioner had reported Balochistan’s population as more than 20 million.
“This report should be revisited and Balochistan’s population should be properly included”, the Balochistan National Party (BNP) said in a statement and urged Islamabad not to miss the province’s genuine population.
Political leaders demand the inclusion of the missing population
Almost all political parties have expressed a concerned voice over the recent census report and called for a fair deal with Balochistan and its people. Under a pre-planned conspiracy, the Pashtoon population has been decreased, the Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMAP) leader and former Senator Rauf Lala said.
The political parties have also announced to challenge the census report 2023 in the court of law. Balochistan hardly makes up six percent population of the entire country. During the census 2023, the political parties religious or nationalist or the mainstream political parties made tooth and nail efforts to make sure every individual is counted in Balochistan.
“We demand a fair share of Balochistan in the national resources”, Jan Muhammad Buledi, the Central Secretary General of the National Party (NP) said. The party has also opposed and rejected the census report 2023 and termed it a conspiracy against the Balochs.
