ECP to get Rs628m against demand of Rs6.2 billion

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is proposed to get Rs628.190 million for the ‘conduct of elections’ while it had demanded Rs6.2 billion in case of announcement of the nation-wide electoral exercise.

A senior ECP official told The News that the Election Commission had sought time from the minister of finance for presentation on the proposed election expenditure i.e. Rs8.2 billion and Rs12 billion for capacity building, infrastructure development, storage, communication, training and other related purposes.

“We waited for about two months, but could not get time for this purpose and now the budget has been announced without listening to the Election Commission, keeping in view the next elections. The Parliament, its standing committees, politicians and everybody talk about ECP’s capacity building and holding of transparent and fair polls; for this, we need allocations accordingly,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention that about Rs5 billion were spent on the conduct of general elections in 2013, while another Rs6.2 billion on holding the local bodies elections. The number of registered voters is expected to cross 100 million at the time of next general elections while voters’ number stood at 93 million during previous general elections. Needless to say, accordingly, now number of polling stations, polling staff, printing of ballot papers etc. will increase.

As per the federal budget 2017-18 (details of demands for grants and appropriations, current expenditure), Rs271.994 million have been proposed to be allocated for buildings, structure, Rs305.106 million for printing and publication of electoral rolls, Rs460 million for salary, other expenses relating to employees, while Rs50 million with regards to outstanding claims, relating to the National Assembly and provincial assemblies etc.

A sum of Rs360.97 million has been mentioned in the budget documents for Punjab’s provincial election commission, Rs254.815 million for KP election commission, Rs234.673 million for Sindh election commission and Rs242.615 million for Balochistan election commission.

Another senior ECP official complained that it was not yet clear what would be the fate of their ECP Secretariat allowance, which was pending since last year.