ECC approves Rs18.5bn for local elections, releases only Rs2bn

ECC approves Rs18.5bn for local elections, releases only Rs2bn

The government has approved Rs18.5 billion for local government elections, mainly in Punjab and Islamabad, but will initially release only Rs2 billion despite the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) request for the full amount.

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet approved the funding on Thursday. It also sanctioned a Rs300 million grant for repairs and maintenance at the Prime Minister’s Office and his staff colony, despite the government’s austerity measures restricting new purchases. Overall, the committee approved nearly Rs57 billion in supplementary grants during the fourth month of the current fiscal year.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb chaired the meeting. Some participants said the session proceeded hastily, leaving limited time to discuss agenda items, particularly the funding required for local government elections.

According to the Finance Ministry, the ECC approved Rs596.2 million for local government by-elections in Sindh and Balochistan, along with delimitation activities in Punjab.

The committee also considered a separate ECP request for Rs17.8 billion to purchase election materials for local government polls in Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad Capital Territory and cantonment boards across the country. It approved the immediate release of Rs2 billion through a supplementary grant.

The ECP had sought the entire amount, saying it needed around Rs12 billion to conduct local government elections in Punjab in December. The commission also indicated that it would require another Rs4 billion the following week to prepare for the polls.

However, the ECC decided to release the funds in phases rather than provide the full amount immediately. The Constitution, according to the ECP’s position, does not empower the federal government to reduce the commission’s funding demand. Finance Ministry officials maintained that the committee had not reduced the allocation but had only staggered its release, which they said would not affect overall spending.

Separately, the ECC approved Rs300 million for the Capital Development Authority to cover essential repairs and maintenance at the Prime Minister’s Office and the Prime Minister’s Staff Colony.