ISLAMABAD, Nov 19: Chief Election Commissioner Justice (retired) Irshad Hassan Khan on Friday underscored the need for promotion of female literacy to check low participation of women in the elections.

He stated this while speaking at the signing ceremony of "Strengthening electoral process to ensure greater participation in Pakistan" here at Economic Affairs Division (EAD), says a press release.

During the ceremony, the Election Commission of Pakistan, Economic Affairs Division and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) signed a three-year project worth US $3.7 million to support the participation of all Pakistani citizens in the electoral process and to enhance the capacity building of Election Commission as a democratic independent electoral body.

EAD Secretary Shuja Shah and UNDP Resident Representative Onder Yucer signed the agreement. Irshad Hassan Khan also witnessed the ceremony. He said the crucial question concerning the electoral process is the problems of registration of citizens as voters in the electoral rolls and increased turn out in national and provincial assemblies' and local bodies' election, particularly, among women.

The CEC observed that the causes of low participation by women need to be identified and understood. The primary cause in Pakistan is illiteracy, he said, adding that there was also an important issue of personal insecurity.

However, no one can compel a woman to come out of her house to vote; women would have to be persuaded to exercise their vote of their own volition, he remarked. "I firmly believe in gender balance and not gender bias. Women have about 33% representation in the local government institutions", he added.

He said that he was pleased to say that the representation of women in parliament, provincial assemblies and local government institutions had been increased remarkably.

Motivation for voters' participation, whether of men and even more so of women, cannot be the job of the Election Commission alone, but requires support from other organizations and civil society, he maintained.

The implementation of the UNDP project, he said was a step in the right direction to further strengthen the democratic institutions. Referring to a recent initiative taken by him as Chief Election Commissioner by establishing the Federal Election Academy at Islamabad, he said the academy was providing training and education to Election Commission's own officers and staff and intended to impart training to others connected with elections.

The Academy, he said was founded by him on September, 18, 2004. Within a short period of two months, it has completed six refresher courses in Islamabad, in which 125 officers and members of the staff participated, he remarked.

He said besides, numerous training workshops were held at the academy's provincial campuses at Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta wherein 195 officers and staff members were imparted training.

Thus 260 officers and officials have so far been given training, he added. The fifth refresher course for Assistant Election Commissioners from all the Provinces is scheduled to be held form November 24-27, 2004, in which 20 officers will be participating. -APP