Najam on NeoTV on Census Delays in Pakistan
Dean Adil Najam of the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston Univeristy strongly believes that the continued inability of the Pakistan state to hold a census (none has been held for 18 years now) is not only a major detriment to proper development planning but a national disgrace.
Speaking to the news analysis show Khabar Key Peechay on news television channel NeoTV on August 31, 2016, Najam pointed out that all political parties have consistently agreed to postpone the all important census. This, he suggested, is “not because Pakistan is incapable of holding a census” but because it is “uninterested in holding a census.” According to Najam, this is a major sign of state weakness as well as an abdication of a basic state responsibility to its people and their development.
Click on image above to view a video of the program (from minute 18).
Dr. Adil Najam is the inaugural Dean of the Pardee School and a professor of international relations. He was the former Vice Chancellor of the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) in Lahore, Pakistan. More details here.