Workers prepare posters of the political party Pakistan Tehreek Insaf (PTI) in Lahore on April 13, 2013, for the upcoming general elections. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
The Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is beating its rivals in at least one area ahead of the elections: in spending on posters and banners on the streets and roads of Lahore, The Express Tribune has learnt.
According to figures obtained from the Parks and Horticulture Authority, PTI candidates have spent around Rs1.8 million on posters and banners advertising their candidacy, followed by candidates from the PML-N (Rs1.3 million), PPP (Rs900,000), Jamaat-i-Islami (Rs200,000), MQM (Rs90,000), PML-Q (Rs55,000) and independent candidates (Rs65,000).
The PTI has also outspent the PML-N on banners and posters advertising the party generally, as opposed to a specific candidate, handing the PHA Rs530,000. The PML-N has spent Rs339,000 on posters and banners advertising the party symbol and leader, with no other party engaging in such advertising. Most of these general adverts are concentrated at Main Boulevard Gulberg, Main Boulevard Johar Town, Maulana Shaukat Ali Road, Main Boulevard Allama Iqbal Town and Grand Trunk Road.
The PML-N, PTI, PPP and MQM are the only parties fielding candidates at all 13 National Assembly constituencies in Lahore. The JI is competing at five seats. The PML-N and PTI are the only parties running for all 25 Punjab Assembly seats. The PPP is fielding candidates at 24 seats and the MQM and JI at 18 seats each.
PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif has spent the most of any candidate of any party on obtaining rights from the PHA, forking out Rs290,000 for campaign posters, followed by Rohail Asghar Hayat (Rs279,250) and Shahbaz Sharif (Rs245,000).
For the PTI, 18 candidates have obtained rights to display posters or banners. Dr Murad Ras, candidate at PP-152, has spent the most of any PTI candidate (Rs202,860) while Hamid Zaman (NA-118) has spent the least (Rs18,000).
Eight PPP candidates have obtained publicity rights, with Bushra Ahtizaz Ahsan, candidate at NA-124, spending the most (Rs201,450). Samina Khalid Gurki, who is considered a good bet to defend her NA-130 seat, has spent Rs70,000 on her posters and banners.
Only four JI candidates have obtained rights for publicity: Riazul Hasan at PP-148, Ehsanullah Waqas at PP-154, Liaqat Baloch at NA-126 and Manzoor Hussain Gujjar at NA-130.
Begum Tahira Asif (NA-126) and Dr Zaibun Nisa (NA-125) are the only MQM candidates putting up posters and banners.
Candidates wishing to put up campaign posters, in areas other than private housing societies and the Defence Housing Authority, must get a no-objection certificate from the city district government and then buy rights from the PHA. The authority offers differing rates on different roads.
The A+ category, which is the most expensive, includes only Noor Jehan Road, Mehmood Ali Kasuri Road and MM Alam Road (Mini Market to Firdaus Market). Jail Road, Main Boulevard Gulberg and Canal Bank Road are among 15 roads in category A, GT Road, Davis Road and Bund Road are among 29 roads in category B, and College Road, Hall Road and Sanda Road are among 35 in category C.
The prices of the adverts range from Rs100 per week for a 3x5 (square feet) streamer on a road in category C, to Rs800 per week for a 9x3 banner on a road in category A+. The street publicity campaign is to end on May 9, when all streamers and banners are to be removed.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 3rd, 2013.
COMMENTS (45)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
" Parks and Horticulture Authority " Hmm now that is some really reliable and impartial source, isn't it
For us being overseas,first priority should be to rescue our country which is already Drowned in
terrorism and corruption and pull out our Pakistani brothers from the SLAVERY, by giving all our
charity/ zakat/ sadkat etc to Nyia Pakistan rather than sending it to either an individual poor
person or to a party who will buy only a ????????????----TOY --??? for our poor sleeping nation.
Let us please strongly support Imran Khan and help in a real JIHAAD.
Come on, "wake up" "wake up" ----------THERE IS STILL TIME . We can do it Inshallah.
@maria: 350K dollars or rupees?! Which university is that? East-West? LOL
One of the reasons for overspending is that PTI banners are constantly being removed as well.
Well it's great that overseas Pakistanis have access to credit cards and paypal. But Paypal does not support resident Pakistanis and less than 1% of the population has a credit card in Pakistan and most of those CCs don't work online.
I used to live in Sri Lanka where the terrorist group LTTE was funded largely by expatriate Tamils. So I have seen what happens when outsiders start funneling funds to movements in their former country. It can have devastating consequences.
Oversees Pakistanis are back bone of PTI. We are happy that PTI is spending wisely. GO IK!
I donated 800 dollars to PTI and I am happy that PTI has tried best to project its image and plan. Thanks PTI media group
ET doing all its best to spoil IK's image. Paid Media
@ahmer: From HSBC: Your Credit Card ending with ------has been used for PKR 10,000.00 on 30MAR13 at NAYA PAKISTAN.
I have taken out card number and private details.for privacy, but this is the message you get on your cell phone,once transaction is completed. And you get confirmation by email.
Like one below, now I will encourage you to go online to pti website, donate and confirm for yourself, you will get the exact same message every time. If you won't, it means you are arguing just for sake and it is a mute point convincing someone, who does not want to see and listen to the truth.
Sent from my iPhone
On 2013-03-30, at 10:41 PM, naya.pakistan@insaf.pk wrote:
Dear --------
We acknowledge receipt of Rs. 10000 as your contribution towards a Naya Pakistan.
Together we can make a difference.
Thank you Naya Pakistan Team
No one spends money from its own pocket, there are always sponsors like Malik Riaz financing these political parties. when they come into power, they can't refuse their sponsors. we got to limit these spendings in order to liberate political parties from these so called financers.
@Hassaan: I am sure this Halal paisa can be spent in far better ways for betterment of people. PTI is spending way more than its rivals on marketing and talking about limiting election spending at the same time. Absolutely Ridiculous
@Akbar
Our Pakistani student community at a university in Chicago donated over $350,000 US Dollars to PTI over the last 6 months on top of that our KAPTAN gives lectures at universities all over the world averaging $250,000 US Dollars per lecture! He does 100s of lectures every year across the world!
Do the Math!!!
It's because most of the Patriotic Pakistanis especially the overseas Pakistanis are donating regularly in Naya Pakistan Fund. This is our money and we trust our leadership. I regularly collect the donations from Pakistanis and send in Naya Pakistan funds. until now I have sent £750 pounds and will send more insha Allah.
@Realistic: When somebody openly uproots PTI banners and flags and uses baldia's green number plated vehicles in their own campaign activities. Why wouldn't PTI's campaign be weak in karachi
@Vaqar:
proof pls....anyone can write that they paid....and most here only wrote
Glad to know my £50 donation is being put to good use!
@ Akbar
You will see my name brother....and two of my cousins and you will find a healthy number before our names....PTI is the only party which has such fund collection method everyone else using money looted ..
Every single time i switch on tv, your beloved Ik is addressing people at one place or the other and then you cry that you don't get media coverage?
@ahmer: visit PTI website and it will talk you through......
Well PML-N paid RFAK Rs 4 million to sing one song for them whereas he did one for PTI for free....lol
Perhaps other parties are saving for post-election horse trading.
PTI campaign in Karachi is sadly very weak! In Karachi, PTI is not focusing on any other constituency other than NA 250!
@ahmer: Ahmer, I am a Doctor,We and other members of our family and friends I know have donated multiple times through pti website using PayPal and credit card. I would not give a single penny of my hard earned money to any other party. It is only because of trust in Imran Khan. When floods devasted Pakistan we donated in the same way through Imran khan foundation. It is as simple, if you trust Imran khan with your donations for charity, why not for a change in politics that unfortunately has become family business for other parties. Analysts forget that people like us have remained apolitical in the past but now feel that enough is enough! Regardless if PTI wins or losses, as long as we feel IK and PTI is fair, will keep supporting. With the turmoil Pakistan is in, funding for Naya Pakistan is as noble a cause as any!
@Bhatti: cash or cheque and where??
@BILAL: At least 9 hours a day and watching it as we speak. But what's the point children brigade really wants to make?
I Donated Rs.5000 for PTI's Tsunami fund! :) feeling good about it!
can all those who have claimed here that they donated to PTI pls let us know the manner in which it was done eg..cash, cheque, money transfer.
I am a student and have so far contributed some amount. Im sure those overseas with jobs have contributed much more. This is the time, contribute and get rid of these monsters who are paying from the exchequers looted money and will continue to do so. We make effort for a good future and a better pakistan, so no worries if Khan sahab loses or wins. I would not be disappointed because I know we all tried our best.
@Xnain:
When did you watch television last time ?? Last few day its only PML-N on TV bro, No coverage to PTI. Hope that calms you down.
PHA has all the office bearers and officers deployed by PML-N, so i dont trust their numbers.. They are already playing against them. Fake Numbers.
ET you've got to be kidding me. Are you hired by some other party or what?? The amount PML-N is spending in Lahore is insane beyond imagination....PTI is the only party who is following election commission's instructions of budget spending in most constituencies
I really don't know how much funding is PTI getting but even with the raised funds, it seems quite illogical that they would be able to maintain such a huge electronic campaign. No wonder one of my friends have been complaining about PTI getting the most of the paid as well as unpaid airtime at television channels.
After elections, PTI kids will be demanding raise in their pocket money from parents.
power of tabdeeli razaakars..... salute to razaakars like wasiq who gave up his life for naya pakistan
The expats have not been given the right to vote in this election which is predominantly PTI's vote bank and most of us are trying to put our share by funding " Naya Pakistan" and will continue to do so. The only person we trust our money with is Imran khan, may it be floods, Shaukat Khanum or politics of change. Atleast money will not disappear into oblivion like Nawaz shareef's "qarz utaro mulk sawaro" scheme. Just wish our nation had a better memory. Enough is enough!! Vote for PTI! Vote for Imran Khan. As for funding source I am sure auditors can track every single PayPal and credit card transaction we have made as individuals.
@Akbar: Even if I were to remotely believe what you are saying and If I understand it correctly, you have written 35 crores as media spending. Knowing some people in politics, I do know that fighting for a single NA seat costs anywhere between 5 & 7 crore...and PA seat costs anywhere between 2 - 4 crore...do the math, just national assembly tickets alone will amount to 400 crore plus in spending (assuming they are just targeting 200 seats) for a party...so from that perspective alone, I will consider that not too bad...next time please divulge numbers from other parties as well and also on how they racked up that kind of money. As for PTI, as someone mentioned above, many overseas Pakistanis like myself are doing our best to help PTI. Peace.
PTI is a movement based political party. We don't do deals behind closed doors in drawing rooms, we rely on the thirst for change in the country. For that, our image and our enthusiasm are more important to us than approval or support of another feudal. Our youth and their passion is our only wealth. Movements rely on fervour and part of that is maintaining visibility in the public eye. . There is no party like PTI in Pakistan.
@Hassaan:
I echo your words. I've also been donating quite regularly over the last few months. Vote for change, vote for PTI. Anyone who votes for the old, tried and tested parties lacks common sense.
Ask any if the top 5 media buying houses in the country and they will tell you PTI's actual budget was 350,000,000 Rs just for electronic media. Print, Outdoor and other activation is separate than that. The sources of funds could have been raised. Wonder if they would like to share the names of the donors.
Heavy funding from overseas Pakistani brothers/sisters keeps PTI at peak, well done!
All you have to do is to take into consideration the real cash outlays to media personnel; there you will see PMLN and PPP leading by miles vs. PTI. Street advertisement, Insaf TV, Insaf Radio, and social media are the only planks of marketing available to PTI.
P.S. As @Hassaan mentioned, PTI legally gathered these funds and didn't steal it from the national exchequer like the status quo parties.
If this is what it takes to save pakistan from criminals and thugs then PTI is doing the right thing.
In last 2 months I have donated 300 dollars to PTI..its our money and we believe in PTI..
Overseas Pakistanis are constantly funding PTI, including me. Halal ka paisa hai. (unlike others)