Pakistan kicks off first census in 19 years to meet Supreme Court deadline

A census enumerator notes details from a resident during Pakistan’s 6th population census in Karachi, Pakistan March 15, 2017. REUTERS/Akhtar Soomro

KARACHI/PESHAWAR, Pakistan (Reuters) - Fast-growing Pakistan, estimated to be the sixth-largest country by population, kicked off its first national census in 19 years on Wednesday, a delay caused by a lack of funds, political squabbling and too few available troops to oversee security.

Around 118,000 "enumerators" in 63 districts began the 70-day data-gathering campaign, flanked by police and soldiers, under the order of the Supreme Court, which had set a March deadline.