ISLAMABAD, Sept 12: The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and government of Pakistan on Tuesday signed the “Support to National Elections in Pakistan” project for facilitating the conduct of the general elections 2007 through coordinated donor support.

The 18 months project, an official statement said, would adopt a partnership approach to ensure collaboration of all partners, including national and international, working towards the common objective of free, fair, transparent and credible elections.

At the signing ceremony, the Economic Affairs Division was represented by the Secretary Mr Khalid Saeed, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) was represented by the Secretary, ECP, Mr Kunwar Dilshad while Mr Jan Vandemoortele, Resident Representative, UNDP signed the agreement on behalf of the UN agency.

Mr Khalid Saeed observed that the project would enhance donor harmonization, yielding meaningful impact and would avoid duplication of efforts.

Secretary, ECP, Mr K. M. Dilshad appreciating UNDP’s role for strengthening democracy stated that UNDP had always played a positive role in harnessing donor support for strengthening the Election Commission of Pakistan and increasing awareness among voters in Pakistan.

The UNDP and Election Commission of Pakistan cooperation dates back to 1997 and is still ongoing in the form of UNDP Project “Strengthening Electoral Processes to Ensure Greater Participation in Pakistan (SDEPP) Phase-II”.

He further added that ECP was an independent autonomous constitutional body committed towards free, fair and honest elections in Pakistan. Election Commission was independent in its decision making and operations and, in principle, had always strived to hold free and fair elections in Pakistan, he said and added the basic objective of the ECP was to enhance its capacity to deliver elections independently, effectively, fairly and in a transparent and professional manner.

Mr Jan Vandemoortele remarked that elections were one of the most important way citizens could participate in decisions that affect their lives and hold their representatives accountable for results.

UNDP, he said, aims to enable all citizens to participate in the electoral process and influence government policy to ensure a better life for themselves and their communities.