Islamabad (June 29, 2018): Preparations of the upcoming elections are under way, with the ECP making arrangements to ensure smooth and transparent elections.
On June 26, the polling scheme for Lahore was finalised, which contained constituency-wise lists of polling stations, number of registered voters, and other relevant details. Similar schemes for other areas are yet to be announced.
The printing of ballot papers will commence from July 1 at printing presses in Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi under the supervision of the army.
According to sources, 210 million ballot papers will be printed with more than Rs2 billion being spent on the exercise, making it the most expensive venture in the history of the country’s elections. 
To ensure transparency in the upcoming polls, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will be importing papers for the printing of ballot papers. The ballot papers are said to carry a watermark, something which none of the previous papers had.
The distribution of ballot papers will also be conducted under the army’s supervision.
The ECP has also requested the Defence Ministry to deploy 350,000 army personnel to be posted inside and outside the polling stations. The troops will be deployed for a total of four days leading upto the election day.
ECP has also ordered provincial governments to provide security to all candidates and political leaders.
The commission, in a letter to all four provincial governments, has directed the respective chief secretaries to ensure security arrangements for the candidates and leaders of political parties, sources privy to the matter said.
The ECP has also asked the relevant authorities to install CCTV cameras in sensitive polling stations for monitoring.
ECP reminds staff to observe office timings
The ECP circular.
In a circular issued on Wednesday, the ECP reiterated for its staff the cancellation of all holidays, including the weekends, until the July 25 polls.
Directing supervisors to ensure the presence of their staff, the ECP expressed displeasure at the lax attitude of officials regarding work timings and observed that staff do not come in on weekends and also come to office late and leave early.
General elections will take place on July 25 across Pakistan.
EU observers reach Pakistan
A team of the European Union’s (EU) Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) reached Islamabad to monitor the election process.
The EU EOM also visited the ECP to hold a meeting with top officials.
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