Elections in erstwhile Fata shall be held on July 20 instead of the previously scheduled date of July 2, a statement by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said on Wednesday.

The provincial government has been instructed by ECP to ensure that the security situation has been improved by that time and various provincial administration tasks in relation to the elections are completed so that the polls can be held in accordance with the time frame stipulated in the Constitution.

A meeting to discuss the provincial assembly polls in the tribal areas was held at the Election Commission Secretariat in Islamabad which was presided over by Chief Election Commissioner Justice Sardar Mohammad Raza.

Members of the ECP, the secretary of the ministry of interior, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's home secretary, representatives from law enforcement institutions were all in attendance during the meeting.

The gathering had convened in light of the recent request by the KP government to postpone the forthcoming election in the tribal areas owing to difficulties faced in the "implementation and maintenance of law and order and other administrative affairs".

Officials from the ECP gave a detailed briefing on the relevant preparations made by the electoral body and said that they have completed all the necessary arrangements.

The interior ministry secretary and the KP home secretary also provided details to the ECP officials regarding the security preparations made. The commission was told that the provincial government "requires an extension of only 20 days" to further bring improvements in the planning for the elections.

After hearing from all the parties present, the ECP said it would allow an extension and moved the date for provincial assembly elections in the tribal areas to July 20.