Its first time in Pakistan’s history that its Election Commission won award. Yes its true that ECP won Accessibility Award at international Electoral award held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ECP was awarded for promoting democracy all over the country. Actually the award was given to the SMS system that ECP introduced . The SMS system 8300 where voters from all over Pakistan can verify their votes. The system was designed for 85 Million Pakistani’s and more than 51.8 Million people used that system.
The system was so user friendly that even a illiterate person could easily use that. The system was designed in a way that if one has to verify his vote he has to write his CNIC number in write message option of the cell phone and send it to 8300, After sending that SMS the sender received a message within a minute in which his name, village or city, Tehsil or district, location (electoral area) and the serial number of vote registered in the preliminary electoral rolls.
During the elections the same service also had another addition of informing about one’s polling station address along with other information. This service really was very practical and played an important role in Pakistan’s General Elections 2013 as turnout of this election was highest ever recorded. Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa and Republic ow Philippines Commission were the other two finalists for the award but ECP won the award. Lets hope that ECP will figure out the way to eliminate fake voters or double voters in next General Elections and ensure clean elections will be carried out all over Pakistan.
