7 Key Takeaways: Cost of Politics
Population: 241.5 million
Head of Government: Asif Ali Zardari
Ruling party/coalition: Coalition: Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz & Pakistan Peoples Party
Last election: 2024
Next election: 2029
Number of registered voters: 128.6 million
Annual salary of member of legislature: PKR 6.23 million (US$22,560) benefits excluded
Year of study: 2025
Candidates reported that in the 2024 elections, on average, they spent between PKR 70-100 million, or US$250,000-360,000.
Of the total expenditure, an estimated 60-70% is spent on election day itself. In fact, polling day expense can be as much as five times above the official spending limit of PKR 10 million for the entire campaign.
A mid-sized rally can cost PKR 20-30 million, which covers printing of banners, transportation, food, sound systems, and other items.
Candidates spend between PKR 1-3 million per month in their constituencies, ongoing costs that a politician incurs throughout their political career.
Candidates who are contesting under a party ticket pay a fee to the party. In the 2024 elections, the candidates for the two main political parties, PTI and PML-N were each asked to pay PKR 200,000.
With a young population, low literacy rates, high levels of poverty, and a general economic downturn, there is a constant demand and expectation that elected representatives will provide government jobs to their constituents.
For most politicians, who are generally well-off, the monthly salary of a member of the National Assembly, PKR 150,000, is insignificant and barely cover their personal expenses, let alone the costs associated with their political activities.
Population: 241.5 million
Head of Government: Asif Ali Zardari
Ruling party/coalition: Coalition: Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz & Pakistan Peoples Party
Last election: 2024
Next election: 2029
Number of registered voters: 128.6 million
Annual salary of member of legislature: PKR 6.23 million (US$22,560) benefits excluded
Year of study: 2025
Key Findings
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Context
- The country has experienced regular military rule. Even during periods of civilian rule, the military has remained a potent force. Its power manifests through its role in creating political groups, making or breaking alliances across parties, or simply in ensuring that policy implementation does not negatively impact its interests.
- Whilst the 2024 general elections were marred by allegations of fraud they managed to break several established electoral patterns across the country, particularly in Punjab, which accounts for 53% of the nation's total population. Candidates from well-established political dynasties, some of whom had never lost an election, were defeated by newcomers in what was perceived to be a populist wave sweeping the nation. Some of these new candidates were announced just days before the election, and had spent neither time nor money in their constituencies, yet still managed to secure victory.
- the enforcement of electoral finance provisions is practically non-existent. Section 183 states that the penalty for illegal practice is specified at a prison term of up to two years and/or a fine of PKR 100,000. However, no candidate has ever been charged with violating election expenditure stipulations requirements and with the inclusion of Section 132(5), it has become almost impossible to prove excessive electoral expenditure, meaning that this pattern is likely to continue.
- Pakistan's demographics, along with the large number of new voters reaching voting age every year - ECP registered 6.4 million new voters between October 2022 and December 2023, 3.5 million of whom were female - has begun, and will continue, to have a significant impact on the voting patterns in the country with the potential to reshape the political landscape, and challenge established political and societal structures.
Drivers of the cost of politics
- Candidates intending to participate in elections typically spend years working within their constituencies, which requires both financial and social commitments.
- Another expectation that candidates are expected to meet is the constant demand for job placements within various government departments, especially for lower-level positions; and the development of basic infrastructure, such as roads, drainage systems, and other essential services in local communities.
- In Pakistan, the baradari system plays a significant role in elections, particularly in rural and semi-urban areas. Under this system, members of a family, tribe, community, or caste vote collectively as a bloc for a favoured candidate or party. Bloc voting allows these groups to secure promises or favours in exchange for their support. Baradari decisions are typically strategic and pragmatic, prioritising the selection of a candidate likely to win, and who is willing to safeguard their collective interests. As a result, they normally align with well-established, well-to-do prospective candidates who have a better chance of winning, a barrier that new entrants struggle to overcome.
- Candidates who are contesting under a party ticket pay a fee to the party. However informal demands are much higher, particularly for new entrants.
- Due to continuous disruptions to the democratic process, combined with weak governance and political structures, the perception of power becomes a significant factor in people's voting decisions. Voters tend to prefer candidates who are visibly powerful, which means those who can flaunt status symbols like big cars, security details, large houses, and who have the ability to spend lavishly.
- Potential candidates for electoral office also have to ensure that they have finances in place to pre-empt attempts by rivals to involve them in police cases or other legal proceedings. Established political elites regularly call on the punitive powers of the police in their constituencies, to limit possible opponents.
Sources of funds
- The role of money in mainstream politics has significantly increased, and candidates with considerable resources are therefore better placed to contest elections. Most of the interviewees and a significant number of MNAs are multi-millionaires.
- Unlike developed democracies, where strong political parties form the backbone of their democratic system, political parties in Pakistan, are often family-run affairs, or centred around an individual.
Implications of high political costs
- The role of money is a major deterrent for middle-class or lower-middle-class individuals looking to enter politics. Competing against well-established and financially strong candidates is an uphill task, and an undertaking that not many are willing to pursue.
- The excessive reliance on financial resources has marginalised ideology and given prominence instead to individuals who can not only fund their own campaigns, but also financially support the party. This has given rise to a political class commonly referred to as “electables.”
- The link between money and electoral prospects has given rise to an endemic problem of corruption. It is widely accepted, that once elected, politicians’ resort to corrupt and unethical practices to strengthen their financial positions, which they then use to maintain and expand their political influence within the party and their constituency.
- In a number of cases, laws and policies are made that are directly beneficial to the ruling elite and their business interests.
Recommendations
- There needs to be thorough scrutiny of candidate’s expenditure by ECP, with stricter enforcement of the existing laws and their accompanying penalties. Loopholes, such as those in Section 132(5) of the Elections Act must be repealed.
- Not having elected local governments has closed off opportunities for new entrants into the political arena, particularly those from middle-class backgrounds. There needs to be a constant push from the civil society and other stakeholders to ensure that local body elections are held regularly, and to advocate for the devolution of adequate powers and financial resources to support these structures.
- In mainstream political parties in Pakistan dominant personalities not only weaken the party structure but also block candidates from diverse backgrounds from advancing. Effort can focus on enhancing the capacity of political parties, and encourage them to operate as a more democratic and transparent institutions, with equal opportunities for all members of the party to rise through the ranks.
