Minister for Planning and Development, Ahsan Iqbal says next general election will be held on the basis of data compiled through 7th Population and Housing Census in October next year. 

He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of training of Master Trainers for 7th Population and Housing Census in Islamabad on Tuesday.

Ahsan Iqbal said the government has allocated thirty-four billion rupees which would be utilised in framing economic policies and ensure equitable distribution of resources among all stakeholders for census and development of the country.

He said the government is also providing thirteen point five billion rupees to National Database and Registration Authority to arrange digital solutions for compiling the date.

He said for the first time in the history, the government will be conducting a digital census to minimize errors and ensure the most accurate record of the country's actual population.

Ahsan Iqbal said the state has the responsibility to provide basic amenities of life to its citizens through fair and reliably conducted census because it allocates developmental budgets on the basis of the census.

The Minister economic stability is not possible overnight and requires proper time and continuity of policies and political stability.

He said the government has successfully averted the default challenge on external front and took tough decisions.

Ahsan Iqbal said the government intends to organize Climate Resilience Conference next month to mobilize about sixteen billion dollars for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of flood effected people.  

The Minister said it will take another six to eight months to recover from the floods in Sindh and Balochistan. 

Later talking to media person, Ahsan Iqbal said the narrative developed by Imran Khan is badly beaten and has been exposed in Local Bodies elections in Azad Jammu and Kashmir where 70 percent seats were won by PDM component parties.

He said Imran Khan launched a comprehensive propaganda campaign against national security institutions and even did not forgive the officers who were martyred in a helicopter crash.

Ahsan Iqbal stressed the need for promoting exports, controlling the imports of luxury goods and encouraging foreign direct investments besides generating more revenues.