RAHIM YAR KHAN, June 22: The media can raise awareness among the public to ensure their names in draft electoral lists as it will improve turnout in the next general elections, speakers at a seminar on ‘Display of draft electoral rolls and the role of media’, said.

The seminar was arranged by the Sangat Foundation, The Asia Foundation, the ActionAid Pakistan and the Fafen.

Sangat Foundation Coordinator Ramzan Jatala said 50 social workers were working in union councils of Rahim Yar Khan district to motivate eligible voters to check their names in draft voter lists being displayed at different centres.

He said even though the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had announced draft lists would be displayed at centres from May 25, but they were displayed from June 13.

He said that according to a survey, 40 per cent women and 20 pc men had no computerised national identity cards due to which people could not get their names registered in electoral rolls.

ActionAid Programme Officer Mohsin Hameed Dar said the ECP had provided draft electoral rolls for 1,395 display centres in the district but these centres did not fully facilitate the masses.

ECP Assistant Director Abdul Rauf Naseem said the press could highlight the problems of voters in registration of votes.

Daily Express Resident Editor Syed Arif Moeen Ballay said reporters should arrange group visits of display centres in cities as well as in union councils in rural areas.