ISLAMABAD: Advisor to Prime Minister on Kashmir Affairs Qamar Zaman Kaira has said next elections would be conducted after the completion of the ongoing census and the delimitation process.

Talking to a private news channel, he said Pakistan’s economic condition could not bear the burden of holding elections in April and October this year.

On March 9, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had sought Rs15 billion from the government in order to make preparations for elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

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ECP demands immediate release of Rs 10b for elections

The funds were sought in a meeting with Ministry of Finance. ECP...

According to details, the funds were sought during a meeting held between officials from ECP and the Ministry of Finance. The ECP had also demanded the immediate release of Rs10 billion for the perpetration of polls in two provinces.

During the meeting, the ECP had sought Rs15 billion from the government for conducting elections in Punjab, KP. Sources had added that the finance ministry had already provided Rs5 billion to the commission in this regard.

Meanwhile, sources had claimed, the Secretary of Finance had assured ECP that its demand would be presented before the government. He had said the government did not even have money for daily expenses.

Officials had noted that the withdrawal of resignations from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNAs had saved the costs of the by-election.

The ECP had demanded that funds should be provided under the revised budget for general elections otherwise Article 220 will be used for non-cooperation.