ISLAMABAD: A day following the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) expressing worries about the absence of funds, the Finance Division has allocated Rs17.4 billion to the electoral body for organizing the polls.
The Finance Division, in a statement released on Tuesday, confirmed the disbursement of Rs17.4 billion to the ECP, supplementing the previously released Rs10 billion in July 2023.
“This accumulates to a total disbursement of Rs27.4 billion designated for conducting general elections. The Finance Division reiterates its commitment to supplying funds whenever the Election Commission of Pakistan requires,” the statement elaborated.
Earlier, on Monday, Finance Secretary Imdad Ullah Bosal assured the election oversight body that the funds for the impending general elections would be made available within a day or two.
Bosal was summoned by the commission after the Finance Ministry had been unresponsive concerning the allocation of funds, as specified in the budget, for the elections.
In response to the ECP’s apprehensions, caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi clarified that there exists no financial crisis in meeting the election commission’s monetary requirements.
Via a post on social media platform X, he conveyed that the cabinet has sanctioned Rs42 billion for the ECP’s budgetary needs, with Rs10 billion already disbursed.
The minister affirmed that whatever amount the ECP requires from the budget will be provided accordingly to meet its needs.
Solangi reiterated the government’s firm support for the ECP in ensuring transparent and impartial elections.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
