ISLAMABAD: The percentage of voters over the age of 65 among total registered voters has fallen below 10 per cent, according to an analysis of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) data.

A comparison of polling schemes from 2018 and 2023 shows that even though the number of voters over 65 has increased by 1.67m, their proportion among total voters went down by almost 1pc.

The total number of registered voters in 2018 was 105.95m, with 10.61m (10.61pc) of them over the age of 65.

The number of registered voters in 2023 increased to 128.58m, with 12.29m or 9.56pc over 65.

A breakdown of voter data in all 144 districts shows that proportion of older voters is above 10pc in 26 districts only.

Of them, 14 are in Punjab, five each in Sindh and Balochistan and two in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In Gujrat and Sargodha districts of Punjab, the percentage of voters over 65 is 11.77pc, followed by Talagang (11.59pc), Chakwal (11.43pc), Chiniot (10.90pc), Jhelum (10.89pc), Khushab (10.88pc), Lahore and Mandi Bahauddin (10.86pc) each, and Attock (10.82pc).

Other districts of the province with over 10pc older voters include Dera Ghazi Khan, Hafizabad, Jhang and Sahiwal.

There are five Punjab districts with a proportion of older voters lower than 9pc — Multan, Muzaffargarh, Lodhran, Kot Addu and Layyah.

In Sindh, five out of the total 30 districts have more than 10pc voters aged over 65 years — Karachi (South), Karachi (East), Karachi (Central), Karachi (Korangi) and Hyderabad.

Ghotki and Tando Allahyar districts have the lowest proportion of older voters, with 7.68pc and 7.90pc, respectively.

Five out of Balochistan’s 36 districts have over 10pc older voters. These include Kacchi (11.23pc), Duki (11.07pc), Loralai (10.38pc), Zhob (10.23pc) and Sibi (10.09pc).

Quetta has the lowest ratio of older voters (5.36pc).

Likewise, the proportion of older voters in Dera Bugti is just 6.48pc and 7.07pc in Chagai. Other districts in the province having a proportion of older voters below 8pc are Awaran, Chaman, Jhal Magsi, Kharan, and Kohlu.

Out of the total 36 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, two have over 10pc of older voters.

These districts in KP have less than 8pc older voters — Kurram (7.57pc), Upper Dir (7.63pc), Karak (7.70pc), Shangla (7.75pc), Malakand (7.88pc) and Lower Dir (7.94pc).

In Islamabad, the total number of voters is 1.08m, of which 0.11m (9.91pc) are over 65 years of age.

Published in Dawn, January 28th, 2024

To find your constituency and location of your polling booth, SMS your NIC number (no spaces) to 8300. Once you know your constituency, visit the ECP website here for candidates.