ISLAMABAD: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja has said that over 100 foreign observers are present in the country for the February 8 general elections.
A statement from the Election Commission of Pakistan said that the CEC explained to a Commonwealth observer group that Pakistan had adopted an “open door policy” for foreign poll observers.
ECP completes printing of 260 million ballot papers for elections
The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Monday announced that it has completed the printing of 260 million ballot papers for all the 859 constituencies across the country.
The ECP’s spokesperson said that the reprinting of some ballot papers of a few constituencies, as per apex court’s orders, was also completed on time.
He said the printing process was completed in three government led printing institutes. After reprinting, now the process of delivery of ballot papers to the relevant ROs and DROs is underway across the country, which will be completed on Monday.
The ECP spokesman maintained that 220 million ballot papers were printed in the 2018 general election and, for this purpose, 800 tonnes of special security paper was used for their printing. However, 260 million ballot papers were printed for the 2024 general election and 2,170 tonnes of paper had been used for the purpose.
He claimed that the increase was mainly due to the jump in the number of candidates in the constituencies, which is one-and-a-half times more than in the 2018 elections.
According to the spokesperson, during the process of printing, many challenges were faced at various stages, including court cases and a large number of candidates, however, the commission fulfilled its responsibility and completed the printing of ballot papers on time.
Meanwhile, Balochistan Election Commission said the delivery of ballot papers to DROs and ROs of all the districts in the province was completed on Monday. ECP Balochistan spokesman Farid Afridi said in most of the areas the ballot papers were handed over via land routes while ballot papers were airlifted in C130 and helicopters in Gawadar, Panjgur, Ketch, Kahran and Washak districts.
ECP completes delivery of around 260m ballot papers for general elections
The Election Commission of Pakistan has completed the delivery of around 260 million ballot papers for the upcoming general elections.
According to an ECP spokesperson, the process of ballot paper delivery was completed via road and air.
The spokesperson said that all the ballot papers were handed over from the government’s printing presses to concerned District Returning Officers and their representatives.
He said the process faced difficulties due to inclement weather, but despite all the challenges, the commission completed the work on time so that all voters can exercise their right to vote in an efficient and organised manner.
