Daily Times

HYDERABAD: The first phase of the sixth population and house census kicked off in eight districts of Sindh including Hyderabad on Wednesday. Commissioner Sajjid Jamal Abro formally inaugurated census exercise by putting a number on a house at Qasimabad. The Hyderabad district was divided into 5 census districts including City, Latifabad, Qasimabad, Rural Taluka and the Cantt area, 72 charges, 351 circles and 2,069 census blocks out of which 200 blocks has been declared as sensitive. A total of 1,448 personnel have been appointed in the district which included a divisional head, a district head, five census district heads, 72 charge superintendents, 351 circle supervisors and 1,038 enumerators. According to the security plan, in every sensitive blocks two policemen, one army personnel and an enumerator whereas in normal blocks one army soldier and a policeman would accompany the enumerating team to maintain security of the census staff. The Police and Army mobile teams including Elite force personnel would also be available for providing security cover to the census teams. In the first phase, house and head counting would be conducted in 63 districts of the country including, 16 districts of Punjab, 7 districts of KPK, 15 districts of Balochistan, 7 Agencies of FATA, 5 districts each of AJK and Gilgit Balitistan and 8 district of Sindh including six districts of Karachi, Hyderabad, Ghotki and a Talika in Sehwan.