The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is gearing up to conduct general elections, due later this year. However, gaps in the availability of resources required for the country-wide exercise are adding to its woes. Despite legal and political hitches, the ECP cannot possibly defer its preparations for this ultimate duty.
The ECP has not shared the details of past election budgets or the upcoming 2023 elections, but sources in the know of affairs in the Ministry of Finance shared some startling facts. The federal government cleared a special grant of Rs47 billion for Elections 2023, but it declined the ECP request for an additional supplementary grant of Rs15bn. The Government Cites Financial Strain from Flood Relief and Census as Reasons for Refusing Increased Election Budget; Election Spending per Voter Increased Dramatically in the Last 15 Years.
Why Elections are important?
Elections are a massive undertaking, requiring extensive resources to ensure that the process is fair, transparent, and efficient. In Pakistan, the Election Commission (ECP) is responsible for conducting general elections every five years. However, there are many challenges involved in this process, including legal and political issues as well as the need for significant resources.
One major concern is the financial cost of elections. Over the past 15 years, the election budget in Pakistan has increased dramatically. This represents a massive increase, and the ECP has been struggling to secure the necessary funding to conduct the upcoming elections.
Financial Challenges of Elections
The issue of election finances and transparency is a crucial one in Pakistan, as it directly affects the credibility and legitimacy of the country’s electoral processes. In recent years, there has been increasing concern about the rising cost of elections, as well as the lack of transparency around how these funds are being spent.
The Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) has been at the forefront of advocating for greater transparency in election finances. In addition to urging the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to publish details of its finances on its website, PILDAT has also conducted its own research on the subject.
One of the key findings of PILDAT’s research is that there is a significant lack of information available on election finances in Pakistan. This lack of transparency makes it difficult for citizens to hold political parties and candidates accountable for their spending during election campaigns, and also raises concerns about the potential for corruption and elite capture of the political process.
Another issue that has been raised in relation to election finances in Pakistan is the role of external funding. There have been reports of political parties receiving funding from foreign sources, which raises questions about the independence and sovereignty of the country’s electoral process.
The Importance of Adequate Resources for Conducting Free and Fair Elections
The ECP prepares for conducting general elections in Pakistan, the availability of resources and the budget for conducting the massive country-wide exercise have been major challenges. The ECP needs to ensure transparency in its finances and provide details of past election budgets and the upcoming 2023 elections. It must open its books for public scrutiny and share its audited account reports on the website to build public trust and support for the institution.
The actual breakup of the election spending has not been shared, but a senior source involved said that a sizable chunk is set aside for the security of the election exercise. Besides printing of election-related material and logistics such as transport and food for returning officers, etc., talking about the election cost, he said that months of work goes into expenditure assessment before putting a price tag on an election.
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A former federal secretary, commenting on the huge escalation in the cost from Rs1.8bn in 2008 to the projected Rs62bn price tag for the 2023 elections, blamed galloping inflation. He said that the price of naan (roti) has increased significantly in the past 15 years, from Rs2 in 2008 to Rs25 today.
Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, the President and CEO of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat), has called on the ECP to increase transparency by disclosing its financial details on its website. He emphasized that this practice is crucial for building public trust and support for the organization, as well as for pressuring the government to provide the necessary resources for the ECP to fulfill its responsibilities effectively.
It is clear that greater transparency and accountability around election finances is crucial for ensuring the integrity of Pakistan’s electoral process. It remains to be seen whether the ECP will respond to calls for greater transparency, but continued pressure from civil society and independent experts like PILDAT will be critical in driving change in this area.
