Al-Sudani directs that maximum efforts be made to conduct the current general census

POSTED ON[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] BY [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

[size=52]Al-Sudani directs that maximum efforts be made to conduct the current general census[/size]

[size=45]Yesterday, Wednesday, Prime Minister Mohamed Shia Al-Sudani directed that all capabilities and requirements be prepared to complete the population census.[/size]
[size=45]The media office of the Prime Minister stated in a statement, received by (Al-Mada), that “Prime Minister Mohamed Shiaa Al-Sudani chaired yesterday a meeting of the Higher Population Council, during which the national document for updated population policies, submitted by the Ministerial Council for Human Development, was approved.”[/size]
[size=45]The statement added, "The meeting witnessed a discussion of the measures taken by the Central Statistical Organization in the Ministry of Planning, the requirements for implementing the general population census, and the expected roles of other relevant ministries."[/size]
[size=45]He added, "The council reviewed the decisions of the fourth session of the Arab Council for Population and Development, and it was emphasized that the census be within the international recommendations and the ten principles of the United Nations, as well as being guided by the Arab strategy for population planning."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Sudani stressed, according to the statement, the need to exert maximum efforts to conduct the population development census during this year, directing to prepare all human, technical, financial and logistical capabilities and requirements required to complete this census.[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out that “the government relies on the importance of conducting the census in implementing government policies and achieving the goals of the government program, in addition to its importance in preparing future plans that help in the development and renaissance of society.”[/size]
[size=45]"The fields of the population census form to be conducted by the Ministry of Planning will include a question about religion only, while staying away from nationalism and sectarianism," said ministry spokesman Abdel-Zahra al-Hindawi.[/size]
[size=45]Al-Hindawi added, “The sectarian field does not exist in the basis of the census to be completed, nor in the previous censuses,” stressing that “the date of the census has not been determined until now.”[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out, "Specific mechanisms and requirements that should be completed and are considered basic requirements for the census and represent the backbone of the implementation of the census. We are talking about providing tablets that will be used by enumerators in the implementation of the electronic census."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Hindawi pointed out that “the census needs about 150,000 tablets with special specifications that require contracting with international companies specialized in this aspect to supply the tablets,” stressing that “the process of training enumerators is necessary for the success of the census.”[/size]
[size=45]And he continues, “The census process needs to conduct an experimental census in selected areas of the governorates, after which the inventory and numbering procedures and the establishment of a specialized national center for data processing, and this takes time limits and financial allocations.”[/size]
[size=45]He noted, "The census needs to provide aerial maps for the administrative units, through which the enumerators can move and reach the regions," noting that "the financial allocations must cover these requirements." Al-Hindawi added, “The ministry will follow the same procedures for the census in all governorates, because the census will take place at the same time, without different forms or mechanisms.”[/size]
[size=45]And he talked about "reforming the Supreme Commission for the General Census of Population and Housing in Iraq, headed by Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Planning Muhammad Ali Tamim."[/size]
[size=45]And he continues, “The restructuring of the commission came in light of the government program, which emphasized the importance of implementing the general population census.”[/size]
[size=45]Al-Hindawi concluded, "The Commission will work to create the required conditions and determine the appropriate date for the implementation of the census."[/size]
[size=45]For his part, a member of the Strategic Planning Committee said, "Conducting the general census of population and housing in which a decision was taken by the Supreme Commission to proceed with it in view of its developmental and economic importance."[/size]
[size=45]He pointed out, "Some have fears about conducting the population census and consider it a political issue, although it is economic, so no laws and strategic plans can be proceeded without human resource data."[/size]
[size=45]And Al-Baldawi said, “The importance of the census does not depend on knowing the population numbers, but rather the proportions of distribution between regions, as it is an important matter that governs many industrial, agricultural, residential and commercial sectors.”[/size]
[size=45]And he believed that "proceeding with the census will constitute a successful move for the government, through which it will provide the best services, as it gives real data on population distribution and addresses important issues, foremost of which is poverty."[/size]
[size=45]Al-Baldawi stressed that “the financial costs were the most prominent obstacle to proceeding with the population census, but after its inclusion in the investment projects, this issue was overlooked, as it was proven that it amounted to 220 billion dinars.” Al-Baldawi added, "The mechanism that the enumerators will use is both electronic and manual, so that the results at the level of individuals and buildings are very accurate."[/size]
[size=45]The Council postponed the first reading of the draft law, the first amendment to the General Population and Housing Census Law No. (40) of 2008, submitted by the Strategic Planning and Federal and Legal Service Committees, based on a request from the government to withdraw the draft.[/size]
[size=45][You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]