Pakistani authorities have said that they have completed all arrangements for holding general elections on February 8, including the printing of over 260 million ballot papers for all constituencies of the National Assembly and four provincial assemblies.
According to the Election Commission Pakistan (ECP), there are over 120 million registered voters for the National Assembly and four provincial assemblies and 90,675 polling stations have been established across the country, including 41,403 combined polling stations while 25,320 are for male and 23,952 for women voters.
A total of about 18,000 candidates are in the race for the National Assembly and the four provincial assemblies.
The four provincial assemblies in which elections will take place are Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan province.
The National Assembly (NA) has a total of 336 seats; 266 general seats, 10 reserved seats for non-Muslims and 60 reserved seats for women.
ECP’s Director of General Political Finance, Masood Akhtar Sherwani, said on Friday that the printing of the ballot paper had been completed, reported The Express Tribune.
“The printing of ballot papers commenced on January 14 and concluded today," he said.
Over 260 million ballot papers were produced, distinguished by colours – green for the National Assembly and white for provincial assemblies, he said, adding that the entire process took place across three printing presses, each subject to special security arrangements.
He said that the total number of candidates in the 2024 election surged by 54.74 per cent as compared to the 2018 figures, leading to a 194.75 per cent increase in the requirement for special papers.
To curb wastage during printing, the size of the ballot papers has been reduced.
He also said ballot papers for constituencies in the restive province of Balochistan had also been successfully delivered.
In response to security concerns and challenging weather conditions in certain regions, he said air shipments have been employed to ensure a secure and efficient delivery process. The delivery of ballot papers for all districts, excluding 33 districts, had been completed, he said.
US issues travel advisory for Americans
The US has issued a travel advisory for American citizens visiting Pakistan and asked them to exercise caution ahead of the general elections scheduled for February 8, and also warned of potential poll-related violence.
The US Embassy in Pakistan on Friday issued an advisory and asked its citizens to remain vigilant and aware of the locations of political rallies occurring in areas they intend to visit.
The advisory said on February 8, election day, areas around polling stations may be crowded and US citizens not eligible to participate in Pakistan’s elections should avoid them.
The mission noted that political parties in Pakistan were campaigning actively, such as taking out marches, rallies, and speeches, which are intrinsic to any democratic process. However, it further said that such public gatherings have the potential to block traffic, disrupt transportation and create obstacles to free movement and safety.
The advisory also cautioned that in some instances, political activities in Pakistan have been targeted for violence. Scores of pre-poll attacks on political parties have been reported this week from the troubled provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The US mission advised American citizens not eligible to participate in Pakistan’s elections to avoid visiting areas around polling stations on February 8 as they may be crowded.
There could also be disruptions to internet and cellular service leading up to and throughout election day, it said.
It also provided recommendations such as avoiding areas of large public gatherings, exercising caution if one unexpectedly finds themselves in the vicinity of a large gathering or demonstration and reviewing one’s personal security plans.
The embassy urged US citizens to monitor local media, keep a low profile and also carry their identification documents and cooperate with police.
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