Census suggestion

This refers to the news report, ‘CCI puts off population census again’ (March 1). The decision is generally attributed to the army’s refusal to spare the soldiers required for conducting the population census because of its commitment to Operation Zarb-e-Azb. There is no doubt about it. We are facing multi-directional threats to our security and only the armed forces are effectively thwarting off these threats single-handedly.

Nevertheless, there is always a way out provided the government has the will to carry out the census. There is an obvious bureaucratic foot-dragging on the issue of conducting the population census and only provinces can force the centre to fulfil its constitutional obligation. It is suggested that the armed forces volunteer to provide all the manpower required by the government by recalling reservists to active duty to make up for the deficient manpower.

Major (r) Talaat Khurshid

Rawalpindi