ISLAMABAD: In order to encourage women’s participation in the electoral process, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has planned to reach out to women who are eligible to vote but are not registered in the electoral roll.

As a part of this exercise, the ECP recently identified 629 census blocks in central Karachi where an alarmingly low percentage of women were registered voters.

According to a document available with Dawn, the number of women registered as voters in these blocks is below 40 per cent. There are 13 blocks where this ratio falls below 25pc, and there is a block in Federal B Area which has only one registered woman voter.

The ratio falls as low as 11.34pc and 11.90pc in two census blocks — Sector 11F, New Karachi Town, and Sector 15B, Malik Anwar Goth, in North Nazimabad Town. Here, the number of registered women voters is 11 and five compared to 86 and 37 men respectively.

The ratio of women voters is above 25pc, but less than 30pc, in 18 census blocks falling in Gulberg Town, New Karachi Town and Liaquatabad Town.

In 95 census blocks, the ratio crosses 30pc but does not exceed 35pc.

In 57 census blocks in central Karachi, the ratio of women voters is more than 35pc but less than 36pc. In 77 blocks, the ratio is higher than 36pc and less than 37pc, while in 73 blocks, it crosses 37pc but falls short of 38pc.

There are 149 census blocks in Karachi where the ratio of registered women voters is more 39pc but less than 40pc.

As a part of its campaign to increase voter turnout in the next general elections by bridging the whopping gap between the male and female electorate, the ECP earlier launched a voters’ education campaign.

This includes various activities to motivate women, youth and other marginalised groups in urban and rural areas to actively participate in the electoral process. District voters’ education committees have also been established to highlight the importance of casting votes.

Published in Dawn, March 2nd, 2017