Pakistani expats in Dubai set to elect new executive committee

DUBAI // Candidates only have a few days to put their name forward to stand in elections at a Pakistani community organisation.

All 12 positions on the Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) executive committee are being contested  and interested parties must submit their nomination papers on Thursday.

“The previous committee will now be dissolved and an election committee will be set up to oversee the election process,” said Rizwan Fancy, who is stepping down as community welfare officer.

“People who are interested in standing for the different positions must submit their papers on Thursday.”

The election is open to the association’s 3,000 members and is held every two years.

“Normally we have a little more time to arrange the elections but with Ramadan starting next month it was not something we could postpone until afterwards,” Mr Fancy said.

Polling day is on Friday, June 21, with the new committee expected to be sworn in by June 28.

“Once the candidate papers have been accepted those standing for election can campaign for votes within the PAD headquarters,” Mr Fancy said.

“The election committee will review all the candidates and objections can be put forward.

“The centre will provide access to facilities to allow people to hold meetings within the premises.”

Mr Fancy is stepping down after four years in his post.

“The PAD constitution says that you can only hold a position for a maximum of four years so now is the right time for me to step down.

“I am still keen on supporting the community in any way I can and I will continue to be a PAD member.

“It’s something that I have enjoyed doing over the last four years and I hope whoever takes over continues that work.”

The association said in April that a way forward had been found to complete work on the long-awaited multipurpose community hall.

The project had been talked about for more than 20 years before work finally started last year.

But funding for the Dh6.5 million hall ran out last year with only the outer shell of the building finished.

The association then announced that a donor had come forward to pay the Dh2m shortfall and work could be completed by the end of the year.

The association spent Dh2.2 million on community welfare projects in the UAE and in disaster-hit areas in Pakistan over the last 22 months, the group said.