Census in Skardu’s tehsil postponed due to snowstorm

SKARDU: Population and housing census, currently under way across Pakistan, have been delayed in Tehsil Giltri of Skardu due to heavy snowstorm and blocked roads.

The census, which were launched on Wednesday, across the country have been going on in full swing even in mountainous areas of Gilgit-Baltistan. The field officers have even walked on snow for hours to reach remote villages in Gilgit-Baltistan for census.

Due to heavy snow there is a complete blockade on roads leading to 25 villages in Tehsil Giltri. The decision was made to postpone the census in the area till July. The roads in the area open around last week of April and first week of May.

Six districts of Gilgit Baltistan have been included in the first phase of the census, where currently the field officers were seen trying their best to reach all the people in the area.

The field officers have been keeping a note of all the houses, officers, hotels, hostels, warehouses, schools, colleges in the area for the census. Moreover, they have visited different types of houses including houses made of hay, clay among others.

According to chief statistician Asif Bajwa, as many as 118,000 enumerators from different departments, including the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, have been trained for the process. 175,000 Army personnel have been deployed in the districts for the first phase of the census across country.