ISLAMABAD, Aug 28: The government has released Rs2.6 million for holding general elections on two national assembly seats in Islamabad, a senior official of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) told Dawn on Wednesday.

“The amount is sufficient to meet the requirements and in case of more expenditures, more funds would be given,” he added.

He said the amount would be spent to provide honorarium, stationary and transportation services to the polling staff.

He said some 384 polling stations with 770 polling booths would be set up.

Islamabad Highway from Rawat to Faisal Mosque has been declared as dividing line to separate the two constituencies of NA-48 and 49.

The official said out of 384 polling stations, 188 would be established in NA-48 and 196 in NA-49.

“Similarly, 378 polling booths would be set up in NA-48 while the in NA-49, the number would be 395.”

He said the majority of polling stations would be established at government schools, colleges and universities including, Allama Iqbal Open University and Quaid-i-Azam University.

As many as 2,000 polling staff will perform duties during the polls, he said adding they would comprise teachers and employees of other government departments.

He said each polling station would have one presiding officer and two assistant presiding officers. But, in case of two or more than two booths in a polling station, the number of assistant polling officers could be increased, he maintained.

According to a decision of the ECP, an honorarium of Rs450 would be given to each presiding officer and Rs375 to each assistant presiding officer.

To a question about the number of voters in Islamabad, the official said there were some 384,000 registered voters.

Meanwhile, the ICT administration has been directed to acquire over 350 vehicles for elections including over 100 vehicles from government departments and over 250 from private transport services.