ECP receives over Rs2.25b

National Assembly gets Rs3.4b, Senate Rs1.98b

ISLAMABAD: The government has allocated Rs2.25 billion for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for 2016-17 with 4.8 per cent or over Rs100 million increase against the allocation for the outgoing fiscal year.

According to details, Rs2.15 billion were allocated to the ECP in 2015-16.

However, because of the local government elections, the revised estimates of the ECP were calculated at Rs5.896 billion. According to the budget for 2015-16, the government allocated Rs 881 million as operating expenses but because of elections, it revised it up to Rs4.083 billion.

The expenditures include charges for printing and publication of electoral rolls, provision for conduct of elections, voter registrations/elections and administration of general public service.

Major chunk of budgetary outlay for the new fiscal year would once again be spent on employees.

The government has earmarked Rs1.249 for Employees related expenses, Rs499 million for pays, Rs223 million for salaries of officers, Rs275 million for pay of other staff, Rs750 million for allowances, Rs596 for Regular allowances, Rs154 million for other allowances [other than TA], Rs958 million for operating expenses, Rs1.84million for employees retirement benefits, Rs5 million for grants, subsidies and write off loans, Rs18 million for physical assets, and Rs18 million for repairs and maintenance.

The government has allocated Rs3.4 billion for the National Assembly for the year 2016-17 against Rs2.99 billion for 2015-16.



Major heads for allocations include: Rs1.75 billion for employees-related expenses, Rs1.498 billion for operating expenses, Rs151 million for grants, subsidies and write off loans, Rs8.2 million for transfers, Rs20 million for physical assets and Rs20.1 million for repairs and maintenance.

On the other hand, the Senate has been allocated Rs1.98 billion for 2016-17 which previously stood at Rs1.73 billion.

Allocation for employees related expenses is Rs 1.081 billion, Rs 716 million for Operating expenses, Rs5 million for employees retirement benefits, Rs85.17 million for grants, subsidies and write off loans, Rs54 million for physical assets and Rs23 million for repairs and maintenance.

Interestingly, budget documents show that the government has allocated only Rs2000 for civil works in the Senate to be undertaken during 2016-17.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2016.