PM Imran Khan calls avoiding technology’s full potential ‘foolish’

PM Imran Khan calls avoiding technology’s full potential ‘foolish’

PM Imran Khan calls avoiding technology’s full potential ‘foolish’

Prime Minister Imran Khan addresses the inauguration of the digital portal for verification of power of attorney. Screengrab: PTV via Bol News

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ISLAMABAD: After victories in Parliament on electronic voting machines and other bills, Prime Minister Imran Khan remarked on Thursday that “not using technology” to its full potential is a “foolish” move.

“Not using technology to its full potential can prove to be unwise,” said PM Imran while inaugurating the digital portal for verification of power of attorney.

The premier shared that he was “really happy” after the bills passed by the joint sitting because it has “included overseas Pakistanis in Pakistan’s democracy”. The benefits of the move were also shared by the prime minister in the address.

“It’s benefit is that every government will have to respect overseas Pakistanis because they can vote.

The premier shared that the biggest benefit of voting is that a “person in a democracy” can use it to “keep a check on its government.”

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Read more: Parliament approves use of EVMs, voting rights to overseas Pakistanis amid ruckus

“There are 9 million overseas Pakistanis. When they have the right to vote, whichever party forms the government will have to respect them,” said PM Imran.

Another victory that PM was really happy for was the passage of the bill allowing the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in the general elections.

The PM said that technology is making life easy for humans everywhere and it hasn’t developed so rapidly as it is today.

PM Imran claimed that in 2008 a government commission headed by Sughra Imam had recommended the use of EVMs.

“It was not accepted as people who take advantage of the old system will never welcome change,” said PM Imran. EVMs are working all over the world, he claimed.

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The premier said that a judicial commission after a couple of hearings had ruled that transparent election issue “could be addressed via EVMs”.

“In the previous elections 1.5 million votes were wasted and if EVMs had been there 1.5millions votes would have been counted,” said PM Imran.

The premier claimed that the opposition had created “drama” in parliament for this reason. Pointing out the hypocrisy, the premier shared that the opposition is willing to take money from overseas Pakistanis but does not want them to vote.

“Today because I’m addressing overseas Pakistanis. I want to tell them our government is very happy that you got voting rights,” said PM Imran.

At the start of the address, PM Imran recalled that Irfan Ali, an overseas Pakistani from Greece, in 2019 had suggested to the government via Prime Minister’s portal to digitize the process of the getting a power of attorney as the current method was too time-consuming.

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The premier shared that when the advice came the government started working on digitising the process.

He also expressed happiness over the government “easing” the life of overseas Pakistanis.

“I have the most interaction with overseas Pakistanis…overseas Pakistanis leave the country out of desperation,” said PM Imran, adding that they start “valuing” Pakistan after leaving the country.

“They value Pakistan more after going there. They want their country to improve,” said PM Imran.

Before the PM’s inauguration of the system, PTI’s Senator Faisal Javed announced on Twitter that portal will be initially accessible in 10 countries.

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“Initially 10 countries have been included and more will be added soon to facilitate our diaspora across the world,” said the senator.

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