There are high hopes for an electronic system being installed at embassies around the world to allow millions of overseas Pakistanis to vote.

Pakistan Consul General Aftab Ahmed Khokar told Arab News that there will be further news on the process after the Pakistani Supreme Court holds a hearing on the matter next week. The automated voting facility has been developed by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and will allow about 4.5 million Pakistanis across the world to cast their ballots for the May 11 elections.

The Pakistan Supreme Court has ordered the government to provide facilities for overseas Pakistanis to take part in the elections, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf, where there are large Pakistan expatriate communities.

The software was acquired and developed at a cost of $ 1.5 million and will allow overseas Pakistanis in 15 different countries to vote at 150 polling stations.

Eligible voters will need to have machine-readable passports and national identity cards. A biometric system will also be installed at polling stations to avoid casting of bogus votes. A computer, printer, thumb digitizer and secure Internet connection will be required at every polling station in diplomatic missions. The system will not record the identity of voters.