ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday requested the Ministry of Science and Technology for a demonstration/presentation of the indigenously developed electronic voting machine (EVM).

In a letter to the ministry, the ECP has sought a presentation on Aug 17.

The Ministry of the Science and Technology, on the other hand, said the EVM had been developed according to the specifications of the ECP at half the cost of imported devices.

The device, developed by the National University for Science and Technology, Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (Pakistan) and the National Institute of Engineering, is expected to be put to another test for ECP on Aug 17.

Minister for Science and Technology Shibli Faraz has already stated that his office had developed the electronic voting machine, which would contribute to making the electoral process fair and transparent.

“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 no internet and software vulnerabilities, it is free from external interference,” he said earlier, adding that use of latest technology in upcoming elections would make the electoral processes uncontroversial and acceptable to all.

After the EVM was taken to the PM’s office for a presentation last week, the voting device was placed in the gallery of the parliament building where Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser was also given a demonstration of how the machine worked.

Published in Dawn, August 14th, 2021