‘EVMs’ are need of the hour: Fawad Chaudhry

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Aug 3, 2021: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry has said that the possible introduction of electronic voting machines (EVMs) would be a revolutionary step by the government to fix the electoral system.

The Federal Minister expressed these views while addressing a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on EVM and I-Voting on Monday. The committee, headed by parliamentary affairs adviser Dr Babar Awan, considered the federal cabinet’s decision to finalize the electronic voting machines. It was decided that NADRA would brief the committee on I-voting.

Fawad Chaudhry said that the committee would be briefed on the steps taken to introduce EVMs in the light of the report of the consultant of the Ministry of Information Technology as well as the upgradation of NADRA system.

During the meeting, Fawad said that the government was taking a leap to ensure credibility and transparency in the polling process through EVMs, for the next general elections. He said that the use of technology was the need of the hour for holding clean, transparent and fair elections in the country.

Fawad said the government would launch a media campaign to raise public awareness about the use of EVMs in elections. Fighting for the government’s stance on the issue, Fawad said the government came up with the idea after a long struggle to find a solution to the long-standing issue of the electoral system and the ensuing political battles.

“We have put before the nation a solution to make the elections transparent,” he said. In Pakistan, it is traditional for defeated party to call foul and complain of irregularities.

He said there had been no election since 1970 that had not been affected by allegations of fraud. The federal minister added that the government would launch a media campaign to mobilize public opinion about EVMs.

Dr. Babar Awan said that COMSATS, NIE and NUST have developed a prototype of the locally made EVM under the supervision of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). “As a result of the tireless work of these institutions, today we are going to take a revolutionary step towards an electronic voting machine,” he said.

Referring to India, Awan pointed out that “our neighboring country, which has a population five times larger than ours, has improved its electoral process through EVMs.”

He said that at present the country was at a point where elections were to be held twice a year and the PTI government was taking important steps to address this challenge.

Previously, the use of direct technology with respect to EVMs was allowed but the Election Commission did not have the authority to do so.

In addition, the committee decided that the Ministry of Science and Technology would convene a special meeting of the committee this week to finalize the EVM to ensure implementation of the Cabinet decision.

The federal cabinet on May 18 formed a committee comprising the federal minister of science and technology, the federal minister of information technology and telecommunications and the prime minister’s adviser on parliamentary affairs to introduce EVMs and help Pakistanis abroad to be able to vote.

In addition, the cabinet, in its meeting on March 9, directed the advisor to the prime minister on parliamentary affairs to brief the cabinet in progress on introducing the EVM in elections, to give overseas Pakistanis the right to vote and to hold free fair and transparent and elections.

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