ISLAMABAD: Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja Monday said for the first time in the history of the Election Commission such a large number of recruitments have been made and all the processes are based on merit in a very transparent manner.
He said technology was used to ensure transparency in the entire processes. He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the pre-service training programme for the newly-recruited election officers (BS-17) at the Federal Election Academy.
Sikandar Sultan Raja was the chief guest of the function. Members of Election Commission, secretary Election Commission, provincial Election Commissioners, officers of Election Commission of Pakistan Secretariat and members of practical partners of Election Commission attended the function. The Chief Election Commissioner formally inaugurated the Pre-Service Training Programme. Addressing the function, the Chief Election Commissioner said for the implementation of Election Act (a) 12, the Election Commission of Pakistan has launched this training programme at the Federal Election Academy to enhance the professionalism of the workforce. The training team of the Federal Election Academy has worked day in and day out for its design and has given a comprehensive 16-week training programme.
In his address, the secretary Election Commission said he had the full support of the CEC and the members of the Election Commission regarding the recruitment and training of new officers and the tireless efforts of the officers of the Election Commission concerned in this connection. The secretary said more than one lakh applications were received for 75 vacant posts of election officers while more than 50,000 candidates appeared in the written test. As a result of the written test, the shortlisted candidates had to undergo another written test. As a result of this process, 75 successful candidates were selected. He said 300 marks of 16 weeks pre-service training would be given and after this training a seniority list of newly-recruited officers would be compiled.