ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that procurement of 205,000 EVMs within 120 days is impossible for the upcoming local bodies elections in Punjab.
The commission also said it has no objection to the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the upcoming local government elections in Punjab, but purchasing a large number of machines in a short time was impossible.
The ECP discussed these matters in a meeting held on Thursday under the chairmanship of Sikandar Sultan Raja, chairman of the commission.
According to Geo TV, the ECP officials said in the meeting that the commission was willing to use any technology including EVMs during the local body elections in Punjab only if the federal or provincial governments are able to manufacture the required number of EVMs within the required time.
According to ECP, the Punjab government had been asked to arrange 205,000 electronic voting machines for conducting the Punjab LG polls.
The ECP, nevertheless, maintained in the meeting that the procurement process will be carried out in accordance with the rules and regulations and Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules. The commission decided the pilot testing of these machines in any village or neighbourhood council before their use for LG polls in Punjab.
The ECP clarified that according to the law, elections must be held within 120 days after the dissolution of local governments, therefore, the purchase of machines within 120 days is not possible.
The Punjab chief secretary assured the CEC of all possible cooperation by the provincial government.
The Punjab Local Government secretary highlighted the important aspects of the Punjab Local Government Ordinance 2021 and briefed on the procedure of local government elections.
The ECP special secretary proposed a few amendments to the Local Government Ordinance 2021 that the provincial government agreed to, in addition to the notification of hilly areas in particular, prompt provision of rules under the ordinance and pre-scheduling.
