The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday decided to not publish additional ballot papers for general elections 2018. In a statement, it was stated that 1,300 papers would be dispatched to polling stations having 1,201 to 1,299 voters. Only three official printing presses will publish the ballot papers, it added. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), FATA and Islamabad will get papers being published from Printing Corporation, while Balochistan, Sindh and South Punjab will contact National Security Printing Press and papers from Postal Printing Press will be dispatched to the constituencies in Punjab. Approximately, more than 210 million ballot papers will be published for the elections. On the other hand, Spokesman for ECP Chaudhry Nadeem Qasim said it was a constitutional obligation to hold general elections within 60 days after completion of the term of the present government. Earlier, the ECP had sent a summary to President Mamnoon Hussain to fix the date for the next general elections. The commission had earlier decided to hold elections on July 25 or July 26 but it was changed afterwards. A review report-conducted by ECP-stated that basic facilities ahd been provided in as much as 367 polling stations across Punjab whereas work to provide same facilities in another 107 polling stations would begin soon. Meanwhile, the ECP on Tuesday estimated an initial cost of the polls at more than Rs 20 billion. Out of the initial estimated cost, a sum of Rs 1 billion will be spent for maintaining law and order situation during elections, and Rs 6-7 billion will be spent under the head of election duties while publication of ballot papers will cost Rs 2.5 billion. The government has assured the commission of provision of the required funds to meet election expenditures, said sources. It is the responsibility of the government to make funds available to ensure the conduct of elections, an ECP official said. Published in Daily Times, May 23rd 2018.