Voters will now have one hour more to cast vote on election day

ISLAMABAD: The Election Commission of Pakistan has extended polling time for one hour for general elections to be held on 25th of next month.

The polling will begin at eight in the morning and will continue till 6 pm without any break.

It is said to be first time in the electoral history of the country that the polling time is being extended to ensure maximum turnout of voters.

On June 26, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf had requested the ECP to extend polling time. PTI wanted the time to extended by three hours from 7am to 8pm, instead of years-long practice of polling culmination at 5:00 pm.

PTI chairman Imran Khan had written a letter to secretary ECP requesting for an extension in the polling for elections.

PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry has said polling time should be extended as voter turnout remains low at afternoon because of the searing heat.

Candidates can withdraw their nomination papers by Friday (today) and the Election Commission will allot election symbols to the candidates on Saturday.