KARACHI: The Election Commission of Pakistan on Dec 7 commemorated the first Voters National Day in Islamabad and in all provincial capitals and headquarters to highlight the importance of electoral process and vote.

In this connection a function was organised here by the ECP in Governor House where Sindh Governor Muhammad Zubair was the chief guest while additional secretary of ECP Dr Akhtar Nazeer, provincial election commissioner Rana Pervez Anwar and officials of provincial departments were present.

Governor Zubair said that the purpose to commemorate the day was to create awareness among the people of the importance and utility of vote and the election process and take measures to get those voters registered whose votes were not registered so that participation of all people could be ensured in the democratic process.

In the general elections of 2008 and 2013 the vote casting rate was recorded at 50 to 55 per cent, indicating the need to increase voters’ participation in the electoral process. He said there was a need to convey the message that voters’ enrolment and exercise of vote was a national duty.

The governor said that establishment of Federal Election Commission Academy for providing comprehensive training to ECP officers and other staff and initiation of pilot project of electronic voting would augur well for the process.

“Holding of transparent and fair elections is necessary to take the country forward. After the census holding of coming elections on the basis of newly reconstituted constituencies is a challenge for the ECP.”

Earlier ECP additional secretary Dr Nazeer Akhtar briefed the participants about measures being taken for ensuring enrolment of all eligible voters.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2017