KARACHI, Aug 13: The stage is set for polling in the first phase of local body elections on Aug 18 with the delivery of ballot papers to returning officers in all 18 towns of Karachi on Saturday, the provincial Election Commission sources said.

The ballot papers were supplied in bags of different colours for identification of the category of votes.

Some 3,728 polling stations have been set up for 4,722,936 voters of the Karachi city district, which would be supervised by 3,728 presiding officers and 42,519 assistant presiding officers.

The civil administration, besides mobilising 95,000 personnel of police, Rangers and Frontier Constabulary, has also made arrangements for an army flag march and extensive patrolling so that in case of an emergency, the army could be deployed to control the situation.

In addition, the administration has decided to install 150 video cameras at important points in the city to record events.

Earlier, the EC supplied ballot papers and other election material to the other 10 districts where elections are being held in the first phase. These include Thatta, Tando Allahyar, Ghotki, Naushahro Feroze, Jacobabad, Kashmore, Mirpurkhas, Omarkot, Sanghar and Tharparker.

The ongoing election campaign of contesting groups for the first phase will come to a close between the night of Aug 16 and 17 in Karachi and the other 10 other districts.

Polling will be held to elect 589 councils comprising 7,657 members including 589 panels of nazim/naib-nazim throughout the province. Polling would be held without break from 8am to 5pm.

It is learnt that the security agencies have recommended 10 towns for being declared sensitive and deploying the army there to maintain law and order for peaceful polling.