PESHAWAR: The introduction of modern IT technology will increase transparency in polls, said provincial election commissioner Mussarat Khan on Monday.

He was addressing the opening session of four days training programme on ‘geographical information system and result management system’ here. The Election Commission of Pakistan with the collaboration of the UNDP Pakistan organised the event, said a statement issued here.

The training programme was attended by regional election commissioners, district election commissioners and their staff members to enhance their capacity. The PEC said the use of information technology was the need of time. He said all field officers should learn more and more about new technology for effective use in the next general elections.

Mr. Mussarat appreciated the ECP’s IT wing and UNDP for organising the event saying it will build the capacity of the election commission’s officials to do duty in a better way.

ECP director (IT) Khizar Aziz highlighted the importance of the new technology and shared his experience of its use with participants. He said like the 8300 SMS service, the technology would also be a success.

“In the first phase, master trainers of all provincial headquarters were trained. They are undertaking the training programmes of the RECs and DECs and staff members of field offices,” he said. Mr. Khizar said the UNDP was technically assisting the ECP to conduct the training programmes and supplied 350 geo-tagging devices for the purpose.

Published in Dawn, November 22nd, 2016