Pakistan Election 2024: Key Facts, Figures, and Updates on the Democratic Process

As Pakistan embarks on its crucial election journey in 2024, here are essential facts and figures shedding light on the scale and significance of this democratic process:

1. Voting Landscape:

   • The National Assembly, with 336 seats, will witness the direct voting of 266 candidates.
   • Additionally, 70 reserved seats exist, with 60 allocated for women and 10 for non-Muslims.

2. Electorate Statistics:

   • Over 128 million eligible voters, aged 18 and above, out of a total population of 241 million, will participate in the election.

3. Parliamentary Formation:

   • The election marks the formation of Pakistan's 16th Parliament.

4. Polling Infrastructure:

   • On Thursday, 90,582 polling stations and 276,402 polling booths will facilitate the voting process across the nation.

5. Gender Dynamics:

   • With a total of 69 million women voters and 59 million men voters, the gender balance in the electorate is notable.

6. Youth Representation:

   • Young voters, aged 18 to 35, constitute a significant portion, with 23.51 million voters between 18 and 25 and 33.34 million between 26 and 35.

7. Candidate Diversity:

   • A diverse pool of 5,121 candidates is vying for seats in the National Assembly, comprising 4,806 male candidates, 312 female candidates, and two transgender candidates.

8. Political Landscape:

   • A total of 167 registered political parties, along with independent candidates, contribute to the multifaceted political landscape.

9. Voting Hours:

   • Polling stations will be open from 8 am to 5 pm, offering a nine-hour window for voters to cast their ballots.

10. Provincial Breakdown:

    • Punjab province holds the highest number of registered voters (73.21 million), followed by Sindh (26.9 million), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (21.9 million), and Balochistan (5.37 million).

11. Security Measures:

    • A substantial security presence, with 596,618 armed forces personnel, has been deployed around polling booths to ensure a secure environment.

12. Past Turnout:

    • The voter turnout in the previous 2018 elections was recorded at 51.9%.

13. 2018 Election Results:

    • In 2018, Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secured 116 seats, Pakistan Muslim League (N) led by Nawaz Sharif won 64 seats, Pakistan Peoples Party under Bilawal Bhutto Zardari claimed 43 seats, Independents secured 13 seats, and 40 seats were distributed among other parties and members.

This comprehensive overview underscores the scale and intricacies of the ongoing electoral process in Pakistan, a pivotal moment that will shape the nation's political landscape. Stay tuned for updates as the election unfolds.