The theme for this edition is Electoral Reforms in Pakistan: Perspectives and Opportunities.

In Pakistan, despite the differences, there is recognition among stakeholders, local and international, that electoral reforms are required. In a nationwide survey of 4,535 people by UNDP, 49 percent people said they were not satisfied with the existing electoral system while 55 percent said electoral reforms are necessary.

In any country, even in well-established democracies, the legal framework and administrative processes for elections need to be seen as organic, requiring regular review and modification. From our experience in electoral reform in dozens of countries around the world, successful implementation of electoral reform is conditioned by two factors: sustained political commitment from all parties and an electoral management body possessing the ability and authority to be the vanguard of the implementation process.