From Awareness to Action: Enabling Equal Electoral Participation for Youngsters with Disabilities of DGSE

The Directorate General of Special Education (DGSE) led by Capt Rtd Asif Iqbal Asif, in collaboration with the esteemed Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), has scheduled mock poll activities to empower eligible voters enrolled as students with special needs. The overall  initiative coordinated  by National Institute of Special Education NISE, sensitizes participants on the importance of voting for persons with disabilities as equal stakeholders, familiarizes them with electoral procedures, and provides hands on experience through simulated vote casting facilities that replicate the ambience of an actual polling station building confidence and civic awareness.
In this regard, the first one day Mock Poll was successfully conducted today on Tuesday February 03,2026 at the National Special Education Centre for Hearing Impaired Children, H-9/4, empowering over 100 college students by the election commission team and HIC  administration and faculty. The activity holistically reflects  the broader revamping of Special Education under the Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training (MoFE&PT), where civic engagement, inclusion, and learning are integral to ensuring that persons with disabilities participate as equal and active members of society.
The Election Commission ECP will continue this collaboration with DGSE towards capacity building of faculty and students in this right based democratic arena.