STAFF REPORT ISB: Turkey has offered Pakistan its latest electronic voting technology to minimize the chances of electoral rigging – a simmering issue that has sparked widespread protests in the country for alleged electoral fraud in last years general elections.
Turkeys state-controlled military software company, Havelsan, made the offer at an ongoing International Defense Exhibition “Ideas 2014” in Karachi, said a company spokesman.
A total of 333 companies from 68 countries are participating in the fair titled “Arms for peace.” Turkey has the largest number of companies participating in the exhibition after China.
Tariq Aziz, a spokesman for Havelsan, told reporters that the system his company was offering to Pakistan would ensure the smooth functioning of electronic voting machines.
The initial cost of an electronic voting machine, Aziz said, is 100,000 Pakistani rupees ($1000). Pakistan has over 80 million registered voters.
Turkish officials said that the newly established Exim (Export-import) Bank was ready to provide a loan for the procurement of these machines.