Young people dominate electoral demography of the country and hold the key to get the country rid of rusted governance by exercising their right to franchise on May 11, said Centre for Civic Education Pakistan (CCEP) Executive Director Zafarullah Khan at a youth festival.
The festival was organised at the History Department of Quaid-i-Azam University to encourage youth participation in the elections. The event was jointly organised by the CCEP and Inter University Consortium for Promotion of Social Sciences Pakistan (IUCPSS) in connection with the Voter Awareness Campaign-2013. The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) supported the initiative.
About 48.45 percent voters in new electoral rolls are below the age of 35, whereas the total turn out during the last election was 44.55 percent, said Zafarullah. He urged the youth to actively participate in electoral process and choose representatives of their choice on the basis of their programmes and manifestos.
The main objective of this week-long advocacy campaign was to equip university students with the necessary civic knowledge and skills to make an informed choice at the polling booths, he said, adding that university campuses had always been a hub of ideas and change. “Therefore, democratic debates and discussions at campuses will act as a catalyst to determine the future of Pakistan.”
History Department Chairperson Prof Dr. Razia Sultana appreciated the efforts of the CCEP for undertaking a number of useful and informative awareness programmes among the youth.
On the occasion, stalls were also displayed for disseminating information and distribution of printed material on election and democracy.
Students took keen interest in the activity and vowed to play their due role. A participant voiced to allow postal ballot facility for students studying in various parts of the country.
The IUCPSS has earlier organised similar youth festivals at the University of Gujarat and University of Haripur.
