ISLAMABAD: In response to concerns raised by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Finance Secretary Imdad Ullah Bosal assured the electoral watchdog on Monday that funds for the upcoming general elections would be released within a day or two.
Bosal appeared before the electoral body after the Finance Ministry failed to respond to inquiries about the allocation of funds for the polls in the budget.
This development arises as Pakistan prepares for the general polls scheduled for February 8, 2024.
The secretary stated that the Finance Ministry would release the funds requested by the Election Commission. The ministry claimed to have received the electoral body’s letter on November 18, four days after it was sent on November 14.
“The disbursement of funds requires approval at various levels,” added the secretary.
Following a meeting with the ECP, the secretary addressed the media.
His appearance at the ECP came after sources informed that the ECP had taken notice of the government’s failure to provide funds.
According to sources, the government allocated Rs42 billion for the general elections in the current financial year’s budget. However, the Finance Ministry has only provided Rs10 billion to the ECP so far.
The sources stated that the disbursement of the remaining amount was unreasonably delayed.
“Rs17 billion are urgently needed for the general elections on February 8,” the sources revealed.
Despite repeated approaches and a written reminder to the Finance Ministry for the immediate provision of funds, no positive response has been received, they added.
Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja has decided to inform Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar about the non-provision of funds by the finance ministry. According to the sources, a detailed letter is also being written to the premier today.
With the general elections scheduled for February 8, 2024, Pakistan’s political parties are gearing up for the face-off. The ECP has finalized the delimitation of constituencies for the national and four provincial assemblies, with the election schedule expected to be announced sometime this week.
The ECP had initially set December 15 for the publication of the final list of delimitations but later revised it to November 30. According to Article 51(3) of the Constitution, the National Assembly consists of 266 general seats, with 60 seats reserved for women and an additional 10 for non-Muslims.
