The Pakistan Electoral Commission (ECP) has postponed partial elections in several constituencies of the National and Provincial Assembly in Punjab due to unprecedented floods that has severely damaged the infrastructure and interrupted administrative functions throughout the province.
In an official notification, the ECP cited the generalized destruction of roads, bridges, railway lines, electrical posts and cell towers, along with damage to government buildings and schools that were designated as voting stations and storage sites for electoral materials.
“The ongoing and relief operations in areas affected by floods have extended civil administration agencies and the application of the law to its limits,” said the commission. “Voting personnel, many of whom are government employees currently dedicated to help efforts are not available to comply with electoral tasks.”
Several officials returned to the district informed the commission about the lack of availability of the designated voting personnel and requested the appointment of new personnel from the neighboring districts. However, the disaster scale has hindered the organization of elections as planned.
The Punjab government also formally requested the postponement, citing the “devastated flood situation” and the commitment of the civil administration in rescue and relief operations as the main reasons behind the application.
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The ECP emphasized its constitutional obligation to hold elections in safe and fair conditions. The commission held a meeting on September 4, 2025 to evaluate the situation, noting that making elections in such interruptions “would deprive the voters” and undermine the safety and integrity of the surveys.
Concently, The Commission decided to postpone the by-elections in National Assembly Constituencies Na-66 Wazirabad, Na-96 Faisalabad, Na-129 Lahore, and Na-143 Sahiwal, as well as in provincial Assembly Constitutionies PP-73 Sargodha, pp-87 Mianwali, PP-98 Faisalabad, and PP-203 Sahiwal.
“The decision to postpone the elections is of public interest,” said the ECP. “The surveys will resume once the situation stabilizes to ensure that the elections are carried out with optimal security and the total participation of the voters.”
At least 46 people have died and more than 3.7 million affected as heavy monsoon rains and water releases from India worsen floods in Punjab.
Almost 1.8 million people have been evacuated in recent weeks after the waters of floods submerged almost 3,900 villages.
The authorities said that in order to prevent the historical city of fine from being flooded, they are considering violating the edge of the Chenab River. That will allow the water to be released on the outskirts of the city so that the river levels can lower.
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Flood levels in Chenab have reached 530,000 Cusecs in Qadirabad Headworks and almost 500,000 Cusecs in Chinint, with Trimmu registering 253,000 Cusecs.
The Ravi was at 98,000 Cusecs in the siphon, while the Sutlej reached 319,295 Cusecs in GS Wala and 169,032 Cusecs in Panjnad.
Prime Minister Maryam Nawaz has reviewed the situation in Chief Muhammad Wala, identified as the next great challenge. The pressure is also increasing on the Sherhah bridge in fine, where traffic has been suspended.
