Hours after the finance secretary was summoned to the Election Commission of Pakistan over lack of funds for upcoming polls, interim Information Minister has denied that there is a crisis brewing over the matter.
In a statement posted to X on Monday evening, Solangi said that the Commission would be given whatever it needed to organise the elections.
“Whatever budgeted amount is needed by the ECP will be released as per its needs accordingly,” Solangi said.
He added that the cabinet had already approved the funds needed by the ECP, and the Commission was now seeking release of Rs17.4 billion out of the already budgeted amount.
“The cabinet had approved Rs 42 billion for the budgetary needs of the ECP. An amount of Rs 10 billion was already released,” he wrote.
“We firmly stand behind the ECP in holding free and fair elections as mandated by article 218(3) of the constitution,” he said.
The statement comes shortly the finance secretary was summoned to the ECP over the witholding of funds without any explanation.
After the meeting, a journalist asked the finance secretary about when the funds would be released. The secretary replied, “The amount of funds the Commission has asked for will be provided.”
