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Pakistan to hold next general election in October 2023 after digital census, says planning minister

11:28 PM | 6 Dec, 2022
Pakistan to hold next general election in October 2023 after digital census, says planning minister
Source: SDPI Pakistan (Twitter)

ISLAMABAD – Urging ousted prime minister Imran Khan and his party to return to assemblies, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Tuesday the next general election in Pakistan would be held in October after completion of a population census.

Khan, who was ousted through a vote of no-confidence in April this year, has since been agitating against the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. His ouster followed resignations of members of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from the Pakistan parliament.

Khan, who blames his ouster on a US-backed conspiracy, has been calling for snap polls in the South Asian country, but the government says it is not possible to hold an early election without a population census among other reasons.

Pakistan carried out its last census in 2017 after a gap of about 20 years, whose results were immediately disputed. Various political factions claimed the population data in some regions had been deliberately fudged by authorities to meet their political objectives.

“A new general election will be held in October 2023 based on the results of the digital census,” Iqbal said at the launch of a training programme for census staff in Islamabad, without elaborating on the “digital” procedures for the headcount.

“The results of the census will come in April and the Election Commission will then delimit the constituencies.”

The minister said an election based on the results of the last census would be controversial, given that the government in southern Sindh province had reservations over it.

“The new census will reveal truth about population,” he added. “For the census, Rs13.5 billion are being given to NADRA (National Database and Registration Authority), whereas, in total, Rs34 billion will be spent on the census.”

Iqbal said Pakistan was one of the fastest-growing countries in terms of population and the headcount could increase to 340 million by 2050, if it continued at the same rate.

“Resources are scarce while the population is growing rapidly, even per capita availability of water is decreasing and if the youth are not educated and skilled, there will be a disaster,” he said.

The minister urged the PTI to return to assemblies and become part of the electoral reforms process to ensure a free, fair and transparent general election.

The country could not afford another political crisis in the wake of the next general election, and needed stability and continuity of policies to move forward in the right direction, he added.

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Pakistani rupee sees marginal decline against US Dollar, Euro, Dirham, & Riyal; check forex rates

Pakistani rupee witnessed marginal losses against US dollar, and other currencies in the open market.

Dollar Rate in Pakistan Today

On Wednesday, the dollar was being quoted at 285.6 for selling and 288.65 for buying purposes.

Euro price stands at 312 for buying and 315 for selling. British Pound rate stands at 360 for buying, and 363 for selling.

UAE Dirham AED stands at 78.25 whereas the Saudi Riyal also witnessed fall and new price stands at 76.25.

Today's currency exchange rates in Pakistan - 29 November 2023

Currency Symbol Buying Selling
US Dollar ‎USD 285.6  288.65 
Euro EUR 312  315 
UK Pound Sterling GBP 360  363
U.A.E Dirham AED 78.25  79
Saudi Riyal SAR 76.25 77.25
Australian Dollar AUD 187.2 189
Bahrain Dinar BHD 750.11 758.11
Canadian Dollar CAD 209 211
China Yuan CNY 39.58 39.98
Danish Krone DKK 41.38 41.78
Hong Kong Dollar HKD 36.24 36.59
Indian Rupee INR 3.39 3.5
Japanese Yen JPY 1.55 1.63
Kuwaiti Dinar KWD 914.36 923.36
Malaysian Ringgit MYR 60.38 60.98
New Zealand Dollar NZD 173.44 175.44
Norwegians Krone NOK 26.25 26.55
Omani Riyal OMR 741.26 749.26
Qatari Riyal ‎QAR 77.63 78.33
Singapore Dollar SGD 211 213
Swedish Korona SEK 26.93 27.23
Swiss Franc CHF 320.1 322.6
Thai Bhat THB 8.01 8.16

Gold rates see big increase in Pakistan; Check today gold price here

KARACHI – The gold price moved up down in the local market in line with massive increase in international market.

Gold Rates in Pakistan Today - 29 November 2023

On Wednesday, the single tola of 24 Karat gold was available at Rs218,000, and the price for 10-gram gold saw an increase of Rs943 to reach Rs186,900.

Meanwhile, the 22 Karat Gold price stands at Rs199,830, 21 karat rate for each tola is Rs190,750 and 18k gold rate hoveres around Rs163,500.00.

In international market, the price of precious metal went up by $29 to settle at $2,044 per ounce.

Today Gold Rate in Pakistan

City Gold Silver
Lahore PKR 218,000 PKR 2,610
Karachi PKR 218,000 PKR 2,610
Islamabad PKR 218,000 PKR 2,610
Peshawar PKR 218,000 PKR 2,610
Quetta PKR 218,000 PKR 2,610
Sialkot PKR 218,000 PKR 2,610
Attock PKR 218,000 PKR 2,610
Gujranwala PKR 218,000 PKR 2,610
Jehlum PKR 218,000 PKR 2,610
Multan PKR 218,000 PKR 2,610
Bahawalpur PKR 218,000 PKR 2,610
Gujrat PKR 218,000 PKR 2,610
Nawabshah PKR 218,000 PKR 2,610
Chakwal PKR 218,000 PKR 2,610
Hyderabad PKR 218,000 PKR 2,610
Nowshehra PKR 218,000 PKR 2,610
Sargodha PKR 218,000 PKR 2,610
Faisalabad PKR 218,000 PKR 2,610
Mirpur PKR 218,000 PKR 2,610

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