ISLAMABAD
President Dr Arif Alvi has announced the date of April 30 for elections in Punjab but the cash-strapped country has to spend Rs47 billion as election expenses in the province.
The sagging economy will have to suffer a shock of Rs47 billion if its holds polls.
The Election Commission of Pakistan will write a letter to the federal government seeking funds for the expenses to be incurred during elections in the province.
For the election of one provincial constituency only, the commission has to set up at least 120-200 polling stations. Besides this, 1000-1200 polling staff will be required to perform election duties.
The polling staff includes returning officer, assistant returning officers, presiding officer, assistant presiding officer, polling officer and Naib Qasid.
A total of 63,800 polling stations will have to be set up and more than 300,000 election staff will be required for the elections on all 297 seats of the provincial assembly.
Apart from the staff, more than 400,000 officials will have to be deployed for security outside the polling stations.
