PESHAWAR: The preparation of population estimates has been taken in hand by different tiers of Basic Democracies throughout West Pakistan for the purpose of electoral units for the forthcoming general elections to the Electoral College [Jan 11].

The West Pakistan Government has directed all commissioners and deputy commissioners in the province to ensure completion of the population estimates by January 31 without fail, it was reliably learnt here. The population estimates are needed by the country`s Election Commission in order to indicate a reliable population size for the units to be formed for the forthcoming general elections. The need for fresh population estimates is understood to have been felt since the delimitation of electoral units could not be made with reasonable accuracy on the 1961 population census.

The preparation of the estimates of population by mohallahs will be done on the existing electoral unit basis by the members of the Electoral College of that unit. Agency