Electoral Commodities of International Standard were used in the Elections – 2008
Lahore, the 11th March, 2008:- The National Electoral Support Programme of UNDP convened a meeting in the office of the Provincial Election Commissioner, Punjab, Lahore presided over by Mr. Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad, Secretary, Election Commission of Pakistan, attended by Senior Officers from Election Commission of Pakistan, Islamabad and Provincial Election Commissioner, Punjab, Lahore.
Meeting was held on the direction of the Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan to review the elections 2008 and to get feed back for future strategy Mr. Kanwar Muhammad Dilshad, speaking at the occasion said that electoral commodities of International standard were used in the General Elections-2008, comprehensive and effective training was imparted to the Polling Staff as well as orientation workshops were conducted for District Returning Officers/Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers. First time in the electoral history of Pakistan, handbooks were printed for the guidance and training of polling agents of the political parties. He further said that voter education was given top priority and number of Civil Societies NGOs were engaged to educate the people at grass route to fetch them to the polling stations. The Election Commission of Pakistan through electronic and print media launched an effective media campaign on elections. Resultantly, the Commission succeeded to achieve the goal of high turn-out in 2008-General Elections. He further said that first time, electoral informations were available in the Commission’s web-site and Pakistan has become the first country, released election results the same day on its web-site for the information of entire world. He congratulated the Pakistani nation for making new era in the electoral and democratic history of Pakistan. The Election Commission of Pakistan remained successful to achieve its objective of neutrality, impartiality, transparency and objectivity.
International Observers particularly European Union and Canadian Observers have appreciated the efforts of the Election Commission of Pakistan and has termed to General Elections as free, fair and transparent. The Secretary said that on the basis of feed back, the future planning will be made to make electoral process more effective, transparent, credible and of International standards.