ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will issue the schedule for holding local government elections in Punjab and Sindh on December 7, DawnNews reported on Monday.
Speaking informally with media representatives after attending a meeting, ECP Secretary Ishtiaq Ahmed said that local government polls will be held on January 18 in Sindh and on January 30 in Punjab.
After the issuance of schedule, provinces would be responsible for any delay in holding the elections, he said, adding that letters in this regard have been written to the provinces to make all preparations.
The meeting was the first official session of the Election Commission chaired by newly appointed Acting Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Justice Nasirul Mulk. He directed to hold the polls on the above mentioned scheduled dates in the two provinces.
Speaking to reporters, Ishtiaq Ahmed said the schedule for holding the elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and cantonment board areas will be issued in first week of January. Provincial authorities and the defence ministry are directed accordingly in this regard, he added.
On printing of ballot papers, the ECP secretary said number of ballot papers has been reduced from 110 million to 30 million after introducing the panel system in Sindh.
He said procurement of ballot papers has been completed for Balochistan, which is scheduled to hold LG polls on December 7.
After registration of eight new political parties in the ECP meeting, total number of registered parties in the country has exceeded 250.