General Elections 2024 Becomes ‘Most Expensive’ in Pakistan’s History

The upcoming General Elections 2024 in Pakistan are poised to be the most expensive in the nation’s history, with an estimated expenditure of Rs42 billion allocated by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). However, the total expenses are expected to surpass Rs49 billion, inclusive of costs related to security and other arrangements by provincial governments.

Ahead of the February 8 elections, political parties and independent candidates have been actively engaging in voter outreach efforts. The initial budget for the elections has seen a significant 26 percent increase compared to the 2018 elections, reflecting the growing costs associated with the electoral process.

Major components of the election budget include the printing of ballot papers, deployment of law enforcement agencies, and payment to polling staff. Despite a surge in the number of candidates, effective management by the ECP has led to a reduction in the demand for special paper.

The ECP has completed the printing of 260 million ballot papers, marking a substantial 54.74% increase in candidates compared to the 2018 elections. To facilitate the voting process, a total of 92,000 polling stations have been established across Pakistan, with each province allocated a specific number of stations based on population density and sensitivity.

In Punjab, 52,412 polling stations will be set up, including 6,040 highly sensitive and 15,617 sensitive stations. Similarly, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa will have 15,737 polling stations, with 4,726 highly sensitive and 6,180 sensitive stations. Meanwhile, Sindh will have a distribution of 4,718 normal, 6,576 sensitive, and 7,802 highly sensitive polling stations. Balochistan is slated to have a total of 5,015 polling stations to facilitate the electoral process across the province.

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