The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will be setting up 64,176 polling stations with 170,174 polling booths for February 18, 2008 polls. The ECP said that it would appoint 572,000 polling personnel for ensuring smooth elections. In order to meet the voters requirements, the ECP is sending 430,000 transparent ballot boxes with plastic seals and 300,000 portable voting screens to the polling stations. These boxes and screens have been imported and supplied to the field offices, in collaboration with the USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development), for use during the forthcoming elections. The ECP said that separate manuals have been prepared in sufficient quantity providing guidelines for smooth and efficient conduct of elections for the facility of District Returning Officers, Returning Officers and Presiding Officers. For the first time, a manual for the guidance of polling agents to be appointed by the political parties and the independent candidates has been prepared and two million copies have been supplied to all concerned. A Brief Manual for National and International Observers has also been published and is being supplied to the Observers for their guidance.
