The government has decided to purchase 17,000 shotguns for Ansar members ahead of the upcoming national election, Economic Affairs Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said on Tuesday.

He told reporters after separate meetings of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs and the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase at the Secretariat that most of the existing firearms used by Ansar are outdated, prompting the decision to buy new ones.

The adviser also said the previously planned purchase of 40,000 body-worn cameras for polling station security will not proceed. Instead, the devices will be provided only to vulnerable centres. “The procurement will be done transparently, and the Election Commission and the Home Ministry will jointly decide the allocation,” he added.

Dr Salehuddin further said the government has approved funds to procure one crore e-passport booklets due to rising demand. Considering the current shortage of vaccines, EPI vaccines will also be purchased.

He added that ahead of Ramadan, rice and wheat will be imported to help keep market prices stable.