Electronic machines to make electoral process fair: minister

Published August 4, 2021
In this file photo, Science and Technology Minister Shibli Faraz addresses a press conference in Islamabad. — DawnNewsTV/File
In this file photo, Science and Technology Minister Shibli Faraz addresses a press conference in Islamabad. — DawnNewsTV/File

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz on Tuesday said his ministry had developed the electronic voting machine, which will contribute to making the electoral process fair and transparent.

“The electronic voting machine has been developed according to requirements of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Today we have briefed the Cabinet about this new device and its benefits,” Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz said while talking to media on Tuesday.

“The use of technology in elections will be helpful for the losing candidate to recognise the results. The machine has no internet and no operating system. Due to the Internet and software vulnerabilities, it is free from external interference. The machine will soon be shown to the cabinet, opposition parties, parliament and the Election Commission,” he said, adding that use of latest technology in upcoming elections would make the electoral processes uncontroversial and acceptable to all.

The machines are being developed using indigenous technologies at half the cost of imported devices by National University for Science and Technology, Comsats and National Institute of Engineering (NIE). The three establishments, under the Ministry of Science and Technology were tasked to develop electronic voting machines.

Shibli Faraz had earlier told media that the machine would be launched after Eidul Azha for the members of the National Assembly and the Election Commission for vetting and to convince them of its benefits.

The three departments had the capacity to manufacture 2,000 machines, costing an estimated Rs65,000 each, which was half the price of imported devices that offered no guarantees of working properly.

According to Shibli Faraz, a special paper would be used on which the ink would not fade or dull for five years. “Counting votes would be a push of a button away and could be completed between 30 minutes to one hour,” he said.

The minister had also informed the media that the machine had a battery life of two days.

While the machines would be tested against cyber attacks, the identity of the voter would remain anonymous, information would be encrypted and they would operate in areas where temperatures drop to ten degrees below zero and in localities where the mercury touches 55 degrees centigrade.

No kind of tampering with the machine would be possible either. Only registered voters would be able to cast their vote through these devices.

Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2021

Opinion

Editorial

Wheat price crash
Updated 20 May, 2024

Wheat price crash

What the government has done to Punjab’s smallholder wheat growers by staying out of the market amid crashing prices is deplorable.
Afghan corruption
20 May, 2024

Afghan corruption

AMONGST the reasons that the Afghan Taliban marched into Kabul in August 2021 without any resistance to speak of ...
Volleyball triumph
20 May, 2024

Volleyball triumph

IN the last week, while Pakistan’s cricket team savoured a come-from-behind T20 series victory against Ireland,...
Border clashes
19 May, 2024

Border clashes

THE Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier has witnessed another series of flare-ups, this time in the Kurram tribal district...
Penalising the dutiful
19 May, 2024

Penalising the dutiful

DOES the government feel no remorse in burdening honest citizens with the cost of its own ineptitude? With the ...
Students in Kyrgyzstan
Updated 19 May, 2024

Students in Kyrgyzstan

The govt ought to take a direct approach comprising convincing communication with the students and Kyrgyz authorities.