LAHORE: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) officials have ensured to collaborate with non-governmental organisations for execution of civic and voter education campaign for marginalised groups before general elections 2018. ECP conducted a meeting of civil society organisations and all nine regional and 37 district election commissioners posted in Punjab, on matters pertaining to political participation of women and persons with disabilities. Civil society organisations or NGOs who participated in the meeting included Punjab Commission on Status of Women (PCSW), Aurat Foundation, Rehnuma Family Planning, Shirkatgah, AGAHE, Centre for Civic Education Pakistan (CCEP), Pattan Development Organisation (PATTAN), Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Centre for Human Rights Education (CHRE), South Asia Partnership Organisation (SAP), Strengthening Participatory Organisation (SPO) and other district-centred welfare organisations. ECP Secretariat (Training, Research and Evaluation) Additional Secretary Zafar Iqbal Hussain chaired the meeting and appraised the participants that it is the constitutional duty of ECP to follow its mission to “conduct free, fair and transparent elections, preparing and maintaining credible electoral rolls, ensuring inclusiveness and managing the electoral process diligently”. According to the goal number 6 to 11 of the second five-year strategic plan (2014-2018), the ECP strives to ensure registration of all the eligible citizens as voters in the electoral rolls, minimising the gender gap, protecting the fundamental rights of minorities and persons with disabilities through a coordinated and comprehensive stakeholder outreach and civic and voter’s education campaign. Productive debate was carried out among the NGOs/CSOs wherein various issues were brought into consideration including the identification of areas where women are barred from using their right to vote and mapping of areas where women do not have national identity cards. Reasons of low enrolment of women voters and effective steps to be taken in this regard as part of the comprehensive campaign of ECP were also discussed. Zafar said that the ECP, in collaboration and coordination with its stakeholders, is devising strategies for successful execution of civic and voter education activities for marginalised groups as part of its voter education plan for general elections-2018.