ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to hold the seventh population census in the country from August 1, which may delay the holding of general elections across the country.

In this regard, the Secretary Election Commission has been informed in a letter by the Statistics Agency regarding the 7th Census.

The letter said that the meeting of the Council of Common Interests on January 13, 2022, had approved the conduct of the seventh census, the results of which would be submitted to the Election Commission by December 31, 2022.

Read more: Next general elections to be held on basis of fresh census results: Asad

According to the letter, the ECP has started the process of delimitation for the next elections on the basis of the 2017 census, while in the case of a new census, the ECP’s delimitation process will become ineffective.

On the other hand, sources said that in case of a new census, holding the next general elections would be impossible before May 2023, after which the Election Commission would need four months for re-delimitation.

According to sources, after the completion of constituencies, the ECP will need at least three months to prepare for the general elections, after which the ECP will have to review the electoral rolls.