Voting Right To Enrich Expatriates' Value, Make Govt Accountable: Prime Minister

Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday said that voting right to overseas Pakistanis provided through Wednesday's legislation, would not only enrich their importance but also enable them to keep a check on governments using their power of vote

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Nov, 2021 ) :Prime Minister Imran Khan Thursday said that voting right to overseas Pakistanis provided through Wednesday's legislation, would not only enrich their importance but also enable them to keep a check on governments using their power of vote.

"Every government will be compelled to value the overseas Pakistanis because (now) they can vote. When they will vote, they will elect a government which will ease their lives," he said addressing the launching ceremony of a portal to help the expatriates get digitally verified their power of attorney.

He said in democracy, the voters could keep a check on their government through their vote. As the overseas Pakistanis were around nine million in number, the governments would be forced to value them duly.

Secondly, he said the legislation on the use of EVM in elections was also made possible as NADRA made it easier to ensure election using the latest technology.

He said as the technology had changed the world altogether, its non-usage would be nothing but a silly approach.

He recalled that the Election Commission in 2008 and a judicial commission in 2015 had also recommended the use of EVM to ensure holding a transparent election.

He viewed that in fact those desiring to take advantage of old system would never let the change to come in.

He also mentioned the resistance faced by the government from within the Utility Stores and FBR when it tried to automate their working to bring in transparency.

He said tax collectors made huge money and the beneficiaries resisted any effort to curb the practice.

He said the government would launch track and trace system by next week which was made possible after huge efforts and would help to ascertain the real figures of production. Such a system would discourage tax evasion and keep proper check on the major businesses like cement, sugar and cigarettes.

He told the audience that the EVMs were functional across the world and it could also address all of the election-related issues in Pakistan.

The prime minister said around 1.5 million votes were rejected in last elections which could have been saved in case of EVMs. The EVMs would also help to do away with the practices of fake votes, he added.

He said the incumbent government also called for an open ballot in Senate election as secret ballot involved huge money to buy the way into Senate.

But, he said both the PPP and PML-N opposed the move despite the fact that the PTI had no advantage of this open ballot.

Referring to the opposition's criticism on legislation in joint session of the parliament, he said that "yesterday's drama" was also meant to stop the overseas Pakistanis from voting.

The prime minister said the PTI government had granted voting right to the expatriates and reiterated his government's resolve bring more ease in their lives.

He recalled that the process of developing the portal for digital verification of power of attorney was initiated after an overseas Pakistani from Greece highlighted the issue.

He said earlier, around 75,000 expatriates had to travel to Pakistan for the purpose and go through a cumbersome process.

The prime minister repeatedly lauded the overseas Pakistanis for their contribution to support the national economy by sending $30 billion remittances.

He said his government had earlier launched succession certificate facility for the overseas Pakistanis.

He said unfortunately, the respective government's could not tap the potential of overseas Pakistanis who otherwise valued their country more and had supported the country in time of distress.

The prime minister viewed that the country would not have required any IMF facility or loan had it properly tapped the potential of overseas Pakistanis.

"But unfortunately, we never considered them an asset rather made their live more difficult," he remarked.

He said owing to corrupt system and practices, the overseas Pakistanis had to face loss or lose their properties to illegal occupation.

He said the real potential of expatriates was their investment but the country never valued them and provided them required ease.

He said the foreign ministry had also directed the embassies particularly in Saudi Arabia and UAE to facilitate the Pakistani workers who would also be able to directly highlight their issue at the recently launched FM Portal.