ECC approves Rs18.5bn for local elections, release...

Summary

• 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 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.
• The ECP had sought the entire amount, saying it needed around Rs12 billion to conduct local government elections in Punjab in December.

AI Generated Summary

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.