ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will observe a National Voters Day on December 7 (Wednesday) throughout the country to encourage citizens to register themselves as voters.
While addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Secretary ECP Babar Yaqoob Fateh Muhammad said that awareness campaign for voters had already been started throughout country to create awareness among the people about importance of their right to vote.
He said “Registration of all eligible individuals is our target and work is in progress as voters registration process is part of strategic plan of the election commission.”
He said that various functions at central, provincial and district level would be held at the offices of the ECP and other places.
Citizens in large number are expected to participate in these functions.
He said that the functions were being held to emphasize the importance of the vote for citizens while different banners had been displayed in various cities.
He said that different programmes had been planned including seminars, awareness walks, lectures, meetings, sports activities, display of banners, voter registration camps, debates and floats.
The secretary said that the Election Commission was raising awareness among public about the importance of their constitutional right.
He said that efforts were being made to achieve highest voters turnout in coming election.
He said that ECP officials and staff would remain busy throughout the day in all four provinces of the country to educate people how to get registered as voter.
He said that the ECP was seriously working on its plan to ensure               registration of people as voters of above 18 years of age and holding national identity card.
Relevant information regarding registration as voters had been placed on ECP website, he added.
He said that with the support of civil society and media, the ECP would aggressively continue its campaign to ensure that all eligible citizens were registered as voters.
He said that the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) had so far issued 102.87 million national identity cards out of which 97.01 million were registered voters.
Out of total registered voters, 54.59 million were male while 42.42 were female voters with having gender gap of 12.17 million, he added.
He said that 190,000 disabled persons were also registered as voters.
He said that 02.56 million country people had national identity cards but they were not registered voters.
The secretary ECP said that the commission was seriously focusing on 12.17 million gender gap and 02.56 million national identity cards holders who were eligible to get registered as voters.
He said that a commemorative stamp would also be issued on National Voters Day on December 7.
