The European Union (EU) Election Observers team has already arrived in Pakistan to monitor the upcoming general elections, said EU Ambassador head of delegation to Pakistan. Talking to media after the launching ceremony of Human Development Report 2013 of UNDP here on Thursday, head of EU delegation to Pakistan Lars-Gunnar Wigemark said that EU was requested by Pakistan Foreign Office to send election observers.
He said that 110-member team of EU election observers has already arrived in Pakistan and would remain in the country for a longer period to observe the election. A short-term observes team would reach one week prior to election in Pakistan, he added.
The EU observers would be following the campaign and as how the political parties and media behave during the entire elections process. Replying to a question when the EU would release its report on election, he said that preliminary report would be presented right after the elections and final report would be released by the EU two months after the election.
About his meeting with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), he said he was satisfied regarding steps taken by the Election Commission for holding free and transparent election. The head of delegation said that women participation in the election would be very important for the EU besides holding free, fair and transparent election acceptable to all the political parties.
Earlier, speaking at the launch of the report, he said that Pakistan has been spending 25 percent of its total expenditure on defence, but very little less than two percent on education and health, essential component of human development. With such a low spending on education and health, achieving human development would remain a dream. He said that the report did not mention about the on-going energy crisis and circular debt, which has serious repercussions on the social and economic life. The Ambassador said that the elections are around the corner and whoever wins would have to implement the reforms.
He said that the HDI report provides a lot of fruit for thoughts and required pragmatic approach based on policies formulated by taking on board public private sector for moving towards long-term sustainable growth. Without investment in the human development, the economic development can not be achieved, he said adding that sovereignty must go with responsibility and regional countries must open their borders for free movements of the people as has been done by the countries in EU. The Ambassador said that the EU is spending 10 million Euro through UNDP, other international organisations and Free and Fair Elections Network (FAFEN) for election related activities.
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