Use of technology to ensure poll transparency: PM Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday said for the first time in the country’s history, the government would synchronize technology and data to eliminate any chances of fraud in general elections.

“We will hold the election with necessary technological arrangements in place to ensure the transparent and fair election,” he said, at the launch of various initiatives of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), here at its headquarters.

The newly inaugurated projects included the launch of Alien Registration Card, Pak COVID-19 Mobile Vaccination Pass, national certification and renewal campaign, setting up of 66 Nadra Registration Centres across the country and inauguration of 90 mobile registration vans.

The prime minister said to end the fake registration of voters, technology would be synced with data. “The results based on the free and transparent exercise would be acceptable to all,” he added.

On the launch of the Alien Registration Card and work permit for foreigners, he said the step would bring the segment into the social and financial mainstream.

He mentioned that over three million registered Afghan refugees would also benefit from the facility, which would help them run their businesses in a legalised manner.

PM Imran Khan said it was the government’s responsibility to facilitate the masses in every possible way.

The prime minister also inaugurated a latest system based on Artificial Intelligence to curb fake identity cards.

Under the new system, the head of the family will be able to know or verify the details of his family members by simply sending an SMS and inform NADRA in case of any addition or deletion.

Earlier on his arrival at the NADRA headquarters, the prime minister on the occasion reviewed the specially-designed mobile registration van, fully equipped to provide services of NADRA to the people in remote areas of the country.

Chairman NADRA Tariq Malik briefed the prime minister about the different facilities including data collection, fingerprint and photo scanning, that will be provided to the people who are unable to visit the NADRA centres.

The Alien Registration Card and work permit will enable the foreigners and their families to run businesses, get admission in private educational institutions, private employment, mobile SIMs, utility connections, open bank accounts, register vehicles and other sale purchases.

The holders of the card will also be protected from legal action under Foreign Act.

The mobile application COVID-19 Pass will immediately verify the document by organizations or the Pakistanis travelling within Pakistan and abroad.

By scanning the QR code on the vaccination certificate, one can easily know the validity of the document which would show the owner name, passport number and other details.