Elections are nigh: ‘Vote of youth can change fate of country’

About 48.45 per cent voters in the new electoral rolls are below 35.

ISLAMABAD:

The youth of the country dominate electoral demography and they could be precursor of change if they vote on the election day.

Executive Director of the Centre for Civic Education Zafarullah Khan said this at a “Youth Festival” arranged to encourage young voters at the Quaid-i-Azam University on Friday.

The event was jointly organised by the Center for Civic Education Pakistan and the Inter University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences Pakistan (IUCPSS) as part of the “Voters’ Awareness Campaign-2013”.

He said that about 48.45 per cent voters in the new electoral rolls were below 35, whereas, the total turnout in the last election remained 44.55 per cent.

He said that only the youth could change the destiny of the nation if they voted cautiously and prudently.

Khan urged the youth to actively participate in electoral process and choose representatives on the basis of their programmes and manifestoes.

The main objective of the week-long advocacy campaign was to acquaint the youth with necessary civic knowledge and skills to make an informed choice at polling booths.

Khan said that university campuses have always been hub of exchanging ideas and precursor of change. “Therefore, democratic debates and discussions on campuses will act as a catalyst to determine the future of Pakistan.”

He also called upon the young participants to engage in a democratic dialogue with their parents, friends and neighbours and be the vanguards of change.

Prof Dr Razia Sultana, Chairperson, Department Of History, Quaid-e-Azam University and focal person IUCPSS at QUA appreciated the efforts of the CCEP for undertaking the awareness programs for the youth.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 4^th, 2013.