ISLAMABAD: The Japanese government and the United Nations Development Prog­ram­me (UNDP) will under a project help strengthen the Election Commission of Pakistan’s capacity to hold elections in the country in an effective manner.

Japanese Ambassador to Pakistan Takashi Kurai and UNDP Country Director Ignacio Artaza on Wednesday signed an agreement with the ECP to provide $5.9 million for the project to develop the capacity of key democratic institutions, including provincial and national assemblies, and the ECP itself.

The project will train election officials and educate voters and support the ECP in modernising the process through the use of technology for the next general elections.

During the election itself, the project will assist in improving voting operations and results management. Thereafter, the support will shift towards strengthening sustainable electoral institutions.

The contribution from Japan bolsters the existing support from UK Aid and USAID, thus allowing the UNDP to build upon its ongoing work to strengthen electoral and legislative processes in Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, Ambassador Kurai said that he believed that both the Election Commission of Pakistan and UNDP would play their roles in making the upcoming elections credible and transparent.

“The long-standing partnership between UNDP, Japan and the ECP is instrumental in building a foundation for democratic governance and sustainable, inclusive development in Pakistan,” said Ignacio Artaza.

ECP Secretary Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad said that the ECP’s successful partnership with the UNDP under its electoral assistance project continued to enhance the professional capacity of the commission’s staff and election officials, in addition to further increasing transparency of the poll process through the use of modern technologies.

Published in Dawn, November 23rd, 2017