Polling booths to be set up across the UAE so Pakistanis can vote

A total of 45 polling booths will be set up at nine polling stations across the Emirates, with separate facilities for women.

ABU DHABI // Pakistanis in the UAE will be able to vote in next month's general election in their homeland.

The country's ambassador yesterday said that 45 polling booths would be set up at nine polling stations across the Emirates, with separate facilities for women.

In addition to the Pakistani mission in Abu Dhabi and the consulate in Dubai, people will be able to vote at Pakistani schools in Dubai, Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.

The ambassador, Jamil Ahmed Khan, said overseas voting had been approved by the election commission of Pakistan, and citizens would find out how the voting would be conducted within the next week or so. The polling stations will have individuals' details stored on computer databases so that voters can just turn up.

Mr Khan said Pakistan's ministry of foreign affairs had already directed its missions and consulates worldwide to make necessary election arrangements in anticipation of the final go-ahead from the Election Commission.

He reminded the Pakistani community that only those who were on the Election Commission's final list of voters could cast a vote, and urged them to turn out in large numbers at the polling stations.

There are about 1.2 million Pakistanis in the UAE. The election will take place on May 11 in Pakistan.