KARACHI: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to observe Dec 7 as the National Voters Day with the objective to create awareness and highlight importance of the right to franchise.

This was stated by ECP officials at a one-day media workshop organised by the commission in a local hotel on Thursday.

ECP additional secretary Akhtar Nazeer and senior officials including Zafar Iqbal Hussain, Yusuf Khat­tak, retired Brigadier Naeem Akbar Qazi, Haroon Shin­wari and Nighat Siddi­qui told the participants that there was a huge gap of 12.7 million between the numbers of registered male and female voters, with females being on the lower side.

Considering the fact, participation of women in the polling would be particularly focused on in an awareness campaign being launched soon.

The door-to-door verification/revision of voter lists for the 2018 general elections would begin on Dec 15, 2017 and continue till May 1, 2018, they said.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2017