ISLAMABAD, June 28: Women voters’ active participation in the forthcoming general elections can help bring about desired changes, as contemplated by the government for revival of democracy.

This was stated by the law minister Khalid Ranjha at the opening ceremony of a workshop on “Supporting Democratic Electoral Processes in Pakistan (SDEPP)” on Friday.

The workshop was arranged by Women Welfare Society, an NGO in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to sensitize women voters.

The minister said women who constitute more than 50 per cent of the total vote bank were of vital importance to the revival of democracy.

He said, unfortunately, our society unlike other developing countries, had not been able to do away with dogmas prohibiting women from playing an active role in the country’s development.

Quoting a study, he said, women contributed 60 per cent in the agriculture economy, but have not been politically recognized by the custodians of democratic norms.

Mr Ranjha said besides reserving seats in the National Assembly and Senate, the government was taking steps to encourage women’s participate in political decision making.

Now it depends on the civil society organizations how they can help sensitize them towards the on-going political activities.

President WWS, Ms Tariq said the WWS was one of the eight NGOs participating in the SDEPP in 76 districts of the country.

She said, through this workshop, women voters would learn about the basics of electioneering, which would in turn help us elect true leadership.

The UNDP, project coordinator, Ms Fozia Yazdani said this workshop financed by the UNDP aimed at promoting democratic standards among women voters.

Syed Zaheer Ahmed Gilani, who was representing election commission said, “We will try to provide best possible atmosphere in the October elections.

Although Pakistan is yet to catch up with the established democratic norms even then things have started to move in the right direction.

Majority of the participants were from district Rawalpindi.