ECP FINALIZES ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONFERENCE OF HEAD OF ELECTION MANAGEMENT BODIES (EMBS) OF SAARC MEMBER STATES

Islamabad, the March 05, 2011:- Mr. Ishtiak Ahmed Khan, Secretary, Election Commission of Pakistan presided here today meeting to finalize arrangements for holding Conference of heads of election management bodies (EMBs) of SAARC members states in Islamabad.  The meeting was attended by     Mr. Muhammad Afzal khan, Joint Secretary (Budget), Mr. Imtiaz Alam, Joint Secretary (Admn), Sh. Jalil Ahmed, Deputy Secretary (Elections), Qazi Khurshid Ahmed, Deputy Secretary (Budget), and Mr. Shabir Ahmed, Deputy Country Director, Qazi Saleem Akhtar, Senior Electoral and Legal Officer, Col. ® Ijaz Ahmed, Senior Electoral Reforms Officer of International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES) besides senior officers of the ECP.
 
Finishing touches were given to the programme and agenda of the Conference to be held in Islamabad on 17th & 18th May 2011.  The Conference will discuss Strategic Planning for EMBs, Consultation of EMBs with the Electoral Stake Holders, Independence and Financial Autonomy of EMBs, Importance of accurate Electoral Rolls for credible elections, Challenges for fair Delimitation and their solutions would be discussed by the Chief Election Commissioners of member states.   The Chief Election Commissioners of Srilanka, Maldives and Bangladesh have so far, confirmed their participation in the Conference while response from India, Bhutan and Afghanistan is expected soon.