President pushes for swift implementation of high-tech electronic voting machines

President Dr Arif Alvi on Thursday asked the Ministry of Science of Technology and other concerned organizations to expedite the process of developing Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with advanced security features to ensure transparency in the electoral process.

As reported by Pakistan Today, he underscored the need for introducing an e-voting system in the country which, he said, would not only facilitate overseas Pakistanis but would also improve the efficiency and various other aspects of the electoral process.

The President made these remarks while chairing a meeting of sub-committee on Emerging Technologies on e-voting at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication (IT&T) Syed Amin ul Haque, Minister for Railways Senator Muhammad Azam Khan Swati, Minister for Science and Technology (S&T) Senator Shibli Faraz, IT&T Secretary Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui, National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) Acting Chairman Brig (r) Khalid Latif, Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) IT Director General (DG) Khizer Aziz, and senior officials of the government attended the meeting.

Federal Minister for Science and Technology Senator Shibli Faraz briefed the meeting about the measures taken by his ministry with regard to the manufacturing of EVMs.

He informed that COMSATS, the National Institute of Engineering (NIE) and National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) were jointly working to produce a prototype of EVM which would be ready shortly.

The President stressed the need that the security of the equipment and various processes involved have to be fool-proof, user-friendly and transparent to ensure credibility of the entire electoral process.

The meeting agreed that NADRA would facilitate e-voting under the umbrella of ECP.

It was also agreed to hold meetings on weekly basis to review the progress on e-voting and EVMs. The President appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Science and Technology for developing a prototype of EVM.