General Elections 2024 most expensive in country’s history

The General Elections 2024 were the most expensive in the country’s history, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Monday.

Each polled vote cost Rs2,522, while the NA and the PA polls cost more than Rs1 trillion.

Candidates spent more than Rs1 trillion. THE Election Commission of Pakistan spent Rs48 billion.

The commission spent a big chunk of money on printing imported watermark paper, stationery stuff, election documents, ballot papers and envelopes.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) established 92,000 polling stations across the country.

Reportedly, 52,412 polling stations were established in Punjab, 15,737, more than 20,000 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and 5,015 up in Balochistan.

The National Assembly candidates spent more than Rs52 billion, sources said.

They added the number of candidates in the provincial assembly elections was 12,853, and they spent more than Rs5b.  

Most of the candidates spent 50 per cent of the money on polling agents and meals.

Delimitations, revised lists, poll materials, security arrangements and awareness campaigns, election staff training and security costs billions of rupees, the sources said.

Despite all claims, the system failed to issue election results on time.

Candidates deposited more than Rs650 from all over the country. 

A total of 8,322 nominations were filed for the general and reserved seats of the National Assembly while 20, 304 nominations were submitted for PA seats.

National Assembly candidates deposited Rs249 million, and PA candidates Rs400m.

The fee for participating in the National Assembly seat elections is Rs30,000, and the fee was nonrefundable.