US provides $6.5 million for poll training

24 Mar, 2013

The United States is looking forward to timely, free and fair elections that will result in the first civilian democratic transition of power in country's history. State Department spokesperson Victoria Nuland answering a question during news briefing on Friday said the US would be looking to the government of Pakistan with regard to any help or support they might need for the elections.
She however pointed out that US had a number of ongoing programmes that supported election - clean, fair elections in Pakistan. She said they were providing support through local organisations to encourage voter participation among groups that had historically low turnout, such as women. Nuland said they also provided grants for two-way communication forums for citizens to discuss the election process.
"We also fund training for poll workers. The total amount of that assistance is about $6.5 million". She however said that to date, they haven't had any request from the Government of Pakistan for concrete support for the election itself. To another question, she said that assistance had been given under Kerry-Lugar-Berman bill.

Read Comments