Rs2.5b allocated for local bodies polls

A further Rs1.5 billion earmarked for completion of computerisation.

ISLAMABAD:

government on Saturday agreed to allocate Rs2.5 billion for local bodies’ elections in next year’s budget for the Election Commission of Pakistan.

The decision was taken during the second day of the Priorities Committee meeting, convened to set budget allocations for various ministries and departments. Authorities have determined a budget of Rs280 billion for next year’s development spending.

Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Secretary Ishtiaq Ahmad Khan told The Express Tribune that the Ministry of Finance has recommended allocation of Rs2.5 billion for fiscal 2011-12 for holding local government elections.

He said the government also agreed to provide an additional Rs1.5 billion for timely completion of the ongoing project of computerising electoral rolls. The total cost of the project is Rs2 billion.

The Ministry of Finance allowed ECP to divert Rs701 million from the outgoing fiscal year’s funds and use it for the project. ECP would pay Rs550 million to the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), besides utilising Rs280 million for paying the dues of the staff.

Last time, the electoral rolls were prepared by ECP in 2006-07 on the basis of census blocks set by the Census Organisation, under the Population Census 1998.

The Ministry of Finance has also allowed ECP to prepare PC-I of the Electronic Voting Machines project. ECP is already running a pilot project and wants its implementation at the national level.

The Priorities Committee also recommended a Rs1.3 billion current budget for ECP. For the outgoing fiscal year, the government has given Rs1.25 billion to the commission for recurring expenses.

The Priorities Committee also recommended a budget of Rs5.5 billion for the Ministry of Interior for the new fiscal year, which is almost equivalent to the outgoing year’s original allocation. However, a Planning Commission official said the ministry has demanded an additional Rs2 billion for various security-related projects. The Annual Plan Coordination Committee will take a decision on the ministry’s request.

There are currently 170 ongoing projects of the Ministry of Interior, with an estimated cost of Rs48 billion. It will take another seven years to complete these projects, with an annual allocation of Rs5.5 billion.



Published in The Express Tribune, April 24^th, 2011.