19,200 polling stations to be set up for elections in Sindh

A total of 19,200 polling stations will be established in Sindh for the next general elections to be held in February next year, and as many as 227,424 government employees will be on election duty throughout the province.

Provincial election commissioner Aijaz Anwar Chauhan told a meeting at the Sindh Secretariat in Karachi on Thursday that the elections would be held for 61 National Assembly and 130 provincial assembly seats in the province.

The meeting, convened by Chief Secretary Dr Muhammad Fakhre Alam Irfan for discussing arrangements and preparations for the general elections, was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Interior Iqbal Memon, Karachi Commissioner Salim Rajput, Additional IG Karachi Khadim Hussain Rind, the secretaries of school education and local government, Secretary General Administration Muhammad Ali Khoso, Secretary Information Nadeem-ul-Rahman Memon, and representatives of the Corps V, Pakistan Rangers, and police, along with other relevant officers. All divisional commissioners and deputy commissioners of Sindh participated in the meeting.

During the meeting, a comprehensive review of security and other arrangements for the elections in Sindh was conducted. The provincial election commissioner stated that a review of the directives given in the previous meeting by the chief election commissioner had been initiated. He mentioned that comprehensive training for the polling staff would be conducted for the elections, and district returning officers, returning officers, and all polling staff would undergo training to ensure the efficiency of the Election Commission.

The police authorities stated that a security plan had been prepared, and 145,334 police personnel would perform security duties during the general elections in Sindh. However, they emphasized the need for rigorous security measures during the transportation of election materials.

Chauhan directed all deputy commissioners to oversee the construction of polling stations affected by floods, ensure basic facilities such as water, electricity, furniture, boundary walls, washrooms, and ramps for differently-abled individuals, and send written confirmation after completion.

Addressing the meeting, the chief secretary stated that the government was creating a conducive environment for transparent, fair, and secure elections in accordance with the directives of the Election Commission.

He held out the assurance that all necessary facilities would be made available at polling stations, and CCTV cameras would be installed at all sensitive polling stations in compliance with the Election Commission’s instructions.

He stated that the government would provide full support to the Election Commission for the successful conduct of the general elections, leaving no room for any shortcomings in this regard.