The ECC has approved a Rs42.5 billion funding for general elections.

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) authorized a Rs42.5 billion funding for the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to conduct general elections on Thursday.

The ECC meeting, which authorized the award, was presided over by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

The federal cabinet will provide final permission to the election funding.

The finance ministry, according to sources, would first give Rs10 billion to the ECP.

The announcement came after the electoral board said that if legislatures are dissolved by August 12, general elections would be place on October 11.

Speaking to the media today, ECP Special Secretary Zafar Iqbal said that if finances were given, the electoral watchdog would be ready to hold the polls on schedule.

The National Assembly’s five-year tenure will expire on August 12.

Meanwhile, it is unclear if the coalition partners would seek the usual dissolution of the NA at the end of its term on August 12, or will encourage the president to seek an early dissolution.

“A general election to the National Assembly or a provincial assembly shall be held within 60 days immediately following the day on which the term of the assembly is due to expire, unless the Assembly has been sooner dissolved,” states Article 224 of the Constitution.

According to Article 224(2), in the event of an early dissolution, the ECP is required to convene general elections within 90 days after the dissolution.

While most partners, including the PPP, have asked for elections to be held on time, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has previously said that the legislatures might be dissolved before the planned date to “facilitate” the ECP.