There will be no budgetary difficulties in organising the upcoming national election and the referendum, Finance Adviser Dr Salehuddin Ahmed has said.

Speaking to journalists at the Secretariat on Monday after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Public Procurement, he confirmed that the government is prepared to allocate the necessary funds.

Dr Ahmed noted that holding the election and referendum on the same day will increase costs. He said allocations will be made based on the Election Commission’s requirements once the schedule is announced. Body cameras will be provided at vulnerable polling centres, with the Home Ministry responsible for the funding.

Reassuring the public, the finance adviser said there is no need for concern regarding the budget for the election and the referendum. 

He, however, acknowledged that the previously estimated budget for the election will increase due to the added referendum and arrangements for expatriate voting.

He said conducting the election and referendum on separate days would be highly challenging. “It is better to hold both on the same day. Many countries around the world follow such a system,” he added.

He said Dr Ahmed said the government has decided to import 50,000 metric tonnes of non-basmati rice from India.