In a bid to educate and motivate the citizens to get registered in national database, National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has decided to get the help and support of civil society. In the first stage1 NADRA signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Monday with Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) - Civil Society Organisation working in the rural areas.
The MoU was signed by Deputy Chairman NADRA, Tariq Malik and Chairperson FAFEN, Mossarat Qadeem. According to MoU, NADRA will identify the areas to the FAFEN where the registration of the people is low and FAFEN will run the public mobilisation campaign to bring folks in rural areas out to register.
Tariq Malik said: 'The goal is to achieve the target of 100 percent registration through creating awareness and motivation among the people in the rural areas by using FAFEN help.'
To supervise the entire project, a two-member joint committee will be formed comprising of a senior member from each side. The committee will also identify such areas where CNIC coverage is very low especially among the women. Such areas will be chosen as the model areas for the aggressive campaign.
According to MoU, the role of FAFEN was restricted to create awareness and motivation among the people regarding the CNIC while it will not be allowed to collect any forms, application, materials, documentation, personal or private data or information or collection of any fee from any person on behalf of NADRA.
FAFEN along with other civil society organisations undertakes nation-wide voter education campaigns in order to motivate and inform potential voters to increase public confidence and increase the participation of women first-time voters (youth) ethnic and religious minorities and other marginalised groups.
'Our goal is to register every eligible voter before elections', said Tariq Malik. 'The signing of MoU with FAFEN is a step towards the achievement of this target', he added. He said NADRA has already registered 98 percent of the male population and 71.2 percent of the female population in the country. Overall percentage of the registered population in the country is 86 percent. Now only 12.82 million citizens eligible for the registration are remaining unregistered.-PR