New Delhi, Jan 30 (IANS): Forum of heads of poll bodies of SAARC countries will link their websites to facilitate faster connectivity, coordination and exchange of information, an official said Wednesday.

The Election Commission of India (ECI), which is the current chair of the Forum of Heads of Election Management Bodies of SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries, hosted a meeting of forum members to strengthen mutual cooperation last week.

The meeting was attended by representatives from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, an official statement said.

The forum decided to formulate an action-oriented work plan for 2013-14 and "to initiate action to link the web-sites of the member-commissions".

The next meeting of the forum will be hosted by Bhutan later this year.

The poll panel also held a seminar "Towards more inclusive elections - Interventions in south Asian region" with each delegation sharing their experience of voter inclusion and participation.

The seminar was addressed by Chief Election Commissioner V.S. Sampath.

Coinciding with the meeting of the Forum of Election Commissions, a two-week training programme was held at International Institute of Democracy and Election Management for election officials nominated by the forum members.