Media Update: United Nations Pakistan, 15 December 2021

UNDP

PRESS RELEASE

Political parties, civil society and media representatives debate Elections ‎‎(Amendment) Bill, 2021 at UNDP and Pildat’s consultation forum ‎

Islamabad, December 15, 2021—UNDP in collaboration with PILDAT organized a Consultation ‎Forum today on the latest Electoral Reforms currently under debate in the Parliament. The ‎objective of today’s event was to inform and engage citizens and policymakers to strengthen the ‎electoral processes in Pakistan for free, fair and credible elections in 2023.‎

The Consultation Forum was attended by representatives of nine political parties including Pakistan ‎Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party ‎Parliamentarians (PPP-P), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan (JUI), Muttahida Quami Movement-‎Pakistan (MQM-P), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Awami National Party (ANP), National Party (NP) ‎and Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M).‎

MNA & Federal Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, provided ‎the government’s perspective and overview of the proposed amendments in the bill.‎

In her welcome remarks, Ms. Aliona Niculita, Resident Representative a.i. UNDP Pakistan, expressed ‎her pleasure upon seeing all the major political parties of Pakistan as well as civil society and media ‎together to discuss electoral reforms for credible, fair and inclusive elections in Pakistan. She said that ‎UNDP’s project on Strengthening Electoral and Legislative Processes (SELP) works to promote ‎accountability and transparency and it was an honour for the UNDP to organize today’s event.‎

Meanwhile, Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, President PILDAT said that the purpose of today’s forum was ‎to discuss and debate those electoral reforms that are currently before the Parliament and take ‎perspectives along with exchange of view among political parties, civil society and media. It was ‎hoped that some level of consensus or a contribution may be made towards consensus on electoral ‎reforms in Parliament.‎

UNDP Pakistan’s Strengthening Electoral and Legislative Processes (SELP) Project seeks to ‎develop more inclusive, and accountable democratic institutions, systems and processes. It ‎improves the supply side of governance by enhancing the capacity of the Election Commission of ‎Pakistan (ECP), the Senate and Provincial Assemblies of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and ‎Balochistan. Moreover, the project supports the demand side by developing the capacity of civil ‎society in advocacy and civic engagement. Increasing the representation of women, youth, and ‎minorities, the project informs all aspects of programming.‎

For additional information, please contact Ayesha Babar at ayesha.babar@undp.org  or +92 (51) 835 5650