LB polls in G-B: Rs4 billion sought for computerisation of electoral rolls

GILGIT:

The Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) Election Commission office has sought Rs4 billion for the preparation of computerised electoral rolls. This was discussed during an informal meeting between G-B’s Law Minister Wazir Shakeel, Local Bodies Minister Engineer Ismail and staff members of the regional election commission office, official sources told The Express Tribune on Wednesday.

An official said that since the data of all the seven districts would be integrated, the amount would be utilised on human resource and logistic services. He said that the regional election commission office has also underlined the need of passing the local bodies’ act through the G-B Legislative Assembly before preparing computerised electoral rolls.

During the meeting, the law minister assured full support for the task; however, he said the matter will first be discussed with G-B Chief Minister Mehdi Shah.

Regional Education Minister Dr Ali Madad Sher said that local bodies’ elections could not be held this year since the new electoral lists were not ready. Sher, who is also the spokesperson for the G-B government, said that the local bodies’ act has been tabled in the assembly and will “sail through” the next assembly session and be made into a law.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 2^nd, 2012.