ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s election regulator on Sunday asked political parties to submit their lists of nominated male and female candidates for the upcoming polls, reminding them that they are required by law to ensure at least five percent of their candidates on general seats are women.
Section 206 of Pakistan’s Elections Act 2017 states that political parties would adopt a “transparent and democratic” procedure to select their list of male and female candidates for elective offices.
The section also states that the parties, while making the selection of candidates for general seats, shall ensure at least five percent representation of women candidates.
“The political parties, having been allocated election symbols for general election 2024, are mandatorily required to ensure 05 percent representation of women candidates on general seats,” the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said in a press release.
“All political parties concerned are, therefore, requested to submit the list of male/female candidates on general seats (to whom party tickets have been issued) to ECP within 5 days of this press release.”
The ECP’s deadline to file nominations expired on Dec. 24, with 28,626 candidates submitting their nominations for national and provincial assembly elections.
A caretaker administration under interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar is running the country until the national election is held on Feb. 8.
The South Asian country has been confronted with several challenges as it heads to the polls, the foremost being a spike in militant attacks in several parts of the country since last year, and a macroeconomic crisis that has weakened its currency, inflated its debt, and triggered inflation.
Political analysts fear an election that is not free, fair, or transparent, would make it difficult for the incoming administration to solve the pressing issues of the country.
Pakistan’s election regulator asks political parties to ensure 5 percent representation of women candidates
https://arab.news/mnt3c
Pakistan’s election regulator asks political parties to ensure 5 percent representation of women candidates
- Section 2016 of Pakistan’s Elections Act 2017 requires all parties to ensure five percent of women candidates on general seats
- Millions of Pakistanis are expected to turn to the ballot box on February 8 to election their representatives for the next five years
Pakistan, ADB sign $730 loan agreements to boost SOE reforms, energy infrastructure
- Both sign $330 million Power Transmission Strengthening Project and $400 million SOE Transformation Program loan agreements
- Economic Affairs Division official says Transmission Project will secure Pakistan’s energy future by strengthening national grid’s backbone
KARACHI: Pakistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday signed two loan agreements totaling $730 million to boost reforms in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and energy infrastructure in the country, the bank said.
The first of the two agreements pertains to the SOE Transformation Program worth $400 million while the second loan, worth $330 million, is for a Power Transmission Strengthening Project, the lender said.
The agreements were signed by ADB Country Director for Pakistan Emma Fan and Pakistan’s Secretary of Economic Affairs Division Humair Karim.
“The agreements demonstrate ADB’s enduring commitment to supporting sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Pakistan,” the ADB said.
Pakistan’s SOEs have incurred losses worth billions of dollars over the years due to financial mismanagement and corruption. These entities, including the country’s national airline Pakistan International Airlines, which was sold to a private group this week, have relied on subsequent government bailouts over the years to operate.
The ADB approved the $400 million loan for SOE reforms on Dec. 12. It said the program seeks to improve governance and optimize the performance of Pakistan’s commercial SOEs.
Karim highlighted that the Power Transmission Strengthening Project will enable reliable evacuation of 2,300 MW from Pakistan’s upcoming hydropower projects, relieve overloading of existing transmission lines and enhance resilience under contingency conditions, the Press Information Department (PID) said.
“The Secretary emphasized that both initiatives are transformative in nature as the Transmission Project will secure Pakistan’s energy future by strengthening the backbone of the national grid whereas the SOE Program will enhance transparency, efficiency and sustainability of state-owned enterprises nationwide,” the PID said.
The ADB has supported reforms by Pakistan to strengthen its public finance and social protection systems. It has also undertaken programs in the country to help with post-flood reconstruction, improve food security and social and human capital.
To date, ADB says it has committed 764 public sector loans, grants and technical assistance totaling $43.4 billion to Pakistan.
