ISLAMABAD, Oct 2: President Gen Pervez Musharraf has directed the provincial governments, defence services and interior ministry to facilitate the visiting international observers to witness the elections being held on Oct 10.

In a directive, the president said that the government was committed to holding free, fair and transparent elections and it would welcome any number of international observers.

In the light of the president’s instructions, an action plan has been chalked out, APP officially learnt on Wednesday.

Sources said that while the election commission would be the coordinating authority for the administration and movement of the observers, provincial governments and federal ministries are giving final touches to the security and logistic arrangements to facilitate the observers’ visits.

The election commission has chalked out a schedule for observers’ visits to various constituencies and polling stations.

On the polling day, helicopters would also be used to facilitate observers’ visits to different areas. The election commission has already forwarded a demand for helicopters to the Chief Executive’s Secretariat.

Provincial governments will arrange for vehicular transport for the movement of observers.

In inaccessible areas, army will provide transport facilities. Army will also assist in provision of security where requested.—APP