Political parties, civil society and media representatives
debate Elections (Amendment) Bill, 2021 at UNDP and  Pildat’s consultation forum

Islamabad, December 15, 2021—UNDP in collaboration with PILDAT
organized a Consultation Forum today on the latest Electoral Reforms
currently under debate in the Parliament. The objective of today’s event was
to inform and engage citizens and policymakers to strengthen the electoral
processes in Pakistan for free, fair and credible elections in 2023.
The Consultation Forum was attended by representatives of nine political

parties including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-
Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPP-P), Jamiat

Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan (JUI), Muttahida Quami Movement-Pakistan (MQM-
P), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Awami National Party (ANP), National

Party (NP) and Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M).
MNA & Federal Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Chaudhry Fawad
Hussain, provided the government’s perspective and overview of the
proposed amendments in the bill.
In her welcome remarks, Ms. Aliona Niculita, Resident Representative a.i.
UNDP Pakistan, expressed her pleasure upon seeing all the major political
parties of Pakistan as well as civil society and media together to discuss
electoral reforms for credible, fair and inclusive elections in Pakistan. She
said that UNDP’s project on Strengthening Electoral and Legislative
Processes (SELP) works to promote accountability and transparency and it
was an honour for the UNDP to organize today’s event.

E-mail: unic.islamabad@unic.org, Web: pakistan.un.org
Meanwhile, Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, President PILDAT said that the
purpose of today’s forum was to discuss and debate those electoral reforms
that are currently before the Parliament and take perspectives along with
exchange of view among political parties, civil society and media. It was
hoped that some level of consensus or a contribution may be made towards
consensus on electoral reforms in Parliament.
UNDP Pakistan’s Strengthening Electoral and Legislative Processes (SELP)
Project seeks to develop more inclusive, and accountable democratic
institutions, systems and processes. It improves the supply side of
governance by enhancing the capacity of the Election Commission of
Pakistan (ECP), the Senate and Provincial Assemblies of Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan. Moreover, the project supports the
demand side by developing the capacity of civil society in advocacy and civic
engagement. Increasing the representation of women, youth, and minorities,
the project informs all aspects of programming.
For additional information, please contact Ayesha Babar at
ayesha.babar@undp.org or +92 (51) 835 5650