ECP sets up ‘Election City’ for results sharing

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) established an ‘Election City’ on its premises, equipped with the latest technology, to swiftly disseminate election results of 855 constituencies to the media, officials said on Wednesday.

Information Technology Director Muhammad Khizer Aziz told the media persons that a comprehensive strategy was in place to receive election results via WhatsApp, email, and fax. He added that the ECP had set up a website to ensure uninterrupted dissemination of results in case of any disruptions.

The ECP would use the Election Management System (EMS) for the transmission of the election results. The EMS would operate even if the internet connectivity was unavailable, with satellite communication had also been deployed in some areas facing connectivity issues.

The EMS comprises two components, Aziz said, adding that the initial capture of results through photos [of results] by the Presiding Officer, followed by the swift transmission to the respective returning officer to Form-45 for onward transmission to ECP and the media.

In case of connectivity issues, the results would be compiled through off-line modules. The presiding officers in all constituencies had been instructed to photograph the Form 45 and send it to their respective returning officers.

The returning officers will then compile the results on Form-47 and share them with the media. Aziz also said that media walls had been installed at each returning officer’s office to share the results, while five media walls had been set up in the ECP ‘Election City’.