Ballot papers’ printing to be completed by July 20: ECP secretary

ISLAMABAD: Election Commission of Pakistan's (ECP) Secretary Babar Yaqoob on Sunday said the process of printing of 220 million ballot papers for the general election 2018 would be completed by July 20.

Talking to media-persons here, he said formally the process of printing of ballot papers was started today, which would be completed on time.

He said the Commission had prepared a plan for dispatch of ballot papers to around 85,000 polling stations across the country well before the polling day. The ballot papers would be dispatched to far-flung areas of Balochistan through aeroplanes, he added.

Babar Yaqoob said the paper being used for ballots carrying all security features was imported from abroad. The process of transportation of ballot paper from Karachi was underway through C-130 planes, Pakistan International Airlines and trucks. `

He said the Pakistan Army had been providing security to the Printing Corporation of Pakistan and other places during printing of the ballot papers.

Babar Yaqoob said strict monitoring was being conducted on violation of code of conduct and on repetition of violation, the ECP might issue disqualification notices to the candidates.

The ECP secretary said no one would be allowed to place banners and posters against the Commission's approved size and asked the contesting candidates to remove their banners and posters exceeding the approved size.

He said the Commission had issued the final polling scheme for National and provincial assemblies’ constituencies across the country for the conduct of general election 2018.

Earlier, the ECP secretary visited the Printing Corporation of Pakistan and examined the arrangements for printing of the ballot papers.