Today, Pakistan holds its most expensive general elections in history, with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) estimating the expenditures to be Rs.42 billion. This is a 26% increase from the last general elections held in 2018 when PTI’s Imran Khan came into power.
The total expenditure is expected to cross Rs.49 billion when expenses on security and other arrangements by the provincial government are factored in.
Pakistan’s 2024 general elections break records!
As per the details, a major chunk of the election’s budget is spent on the printing of ballot papers, the deployment of law-enforcement agencies, and payments to polling staffers. The ECP has established 92,000 polling stations across the country, and a total of 260 million ballot papers have been printed for all constituencies in the country, reflecting a 54.74% increase in candidates compared to the 2018 elections.
Of the total polling stations, 52,412 are set up in Punjab with 6,040 declared highly sensitive and 15,617 declared sensitive. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 15,737 polling stations are set up with 4,726 declared highly sensitive and 6,180 sensitive.
Similarly, in Sindh, 4,718 polling stations are declared normal with 6,576 declared sensitive and 7,802 declared highly sensitive. About 5,015 polling stations are set up in Balochistan.
Also read: Imran Khan, Other Incarcerated Leaders Cast Vote Via Postal Ballot In Adiala Jail
The high cost of the elections has raised concerns among citizens, with many calling for the government to focus on more pressing issues such as improving the economy, healthcare, and education. However, the ECP has assured citizens that every penny spent on the elections will be accounted for and transparent.
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