Qarardad-e-Pakistan: Thousands of citizens vote, majority favour education

People turn out at 21 polling booths to vote for what the country needs.

KARACHI: Nearly half of 15,000 people, who voted in the Qarardad-e-Pakistan campaign set up by the Express Media Group, voted in favour of education for all.

The campaign allowed voters to choose what Pakistan’s agenda should be. Forty-one chose Education for All, 32 per cent chose Equality and 27 per cent Tolerance.

The Express Media Group had set up polling booths at 21 locations across Pakistan, with voters also given the option of sending in their vote via SMS.

The booths were set up in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad at various outlets of McDonalds and offices of the Express Media Group. Citizens from different walks of life ranging from policemen to politicians and celebrities to homemakers participated in the voting.

Polling was inaugurated at the Karachi office of Express News on Monday.  Personalities present at the inauguration included Mustafa Kamal and Raza Haroon, Mufti Munibur Rehman and Aqeel Karim Dhedhi.

Sharing his opinion with Express 24/7 and Express News, former Karachi mayor Mustafa Kamal stated that he did not agree with the three options and that "devolution" was the best way to empower people. He did, however, recognise the role of education in promoting equality and tolerance.

Voting at the Islamabad office of Express News was attended by Qazi Sultan Mahmud and Malik Hakim, Punjab Assembly member Nargis Faiz Malik and celebrities and artists.

Similarly, the Lahore office was visited by ministers Raja Riaz and Maiza Malik, Allama Iqbal Medical College principal Dr Javed Akram, King Edward Medical College University vice-chancellor Professor Asad Aslam, and Parliamentary Health Secretary Dr Saeed Ullah who took the opportunity to vote and voice their opinions to Express News.

The second day of voting was open for the general citizenry and thousands of people participated in the campaign.