How many candidates are contesting upcoming elections in Pakistan?

The political atmosphere is heating up as weeks unfold, marked by candidates engaging in rallies and major political parties intensifying their election campaigns in anticipation of the February 8 polls.

With approximately 20 days remaining before the voting process begins, the Election Commission of Pakistan, the nation’s primary electoral authority, has released information regarding the candidates gearing up for the upcoming general elections.

In the 2024 Pakistan Elections, a total of 17,816 candidates are in the fray, with 5,121 candidates competing for National Assembly seats, while 12,695 candidates are contending for positions in regional legislatures.

According to data provided by the electoral watchdog, a noteworthy 11,785 independent candidates are seeking to participate in the elections for national and provincial assembly seats.

Breaking down the numbers, it was revealed that 3,748 independent candidates and 1,873 political party candidates are vying for National Assembly seats. Simultaneously, 8,537 independent candidates and 4,158 political party candidates are actively participating in the race for provincial assembly seats.

Among the candidates, 882 women are competing for seats in the National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies, with 312 running for the National Assembly and 570 for provincial assemblies.

This election season sees a remarkable total of 6,031 candidates running for National and Provincial Assemblies, nearly twice the number of those representing political parties.

Examining the distribution by region, Punjab has 6,710 candidates in the competition, Sindh Assembly has 2,878 candidates, KP Assembly boasts 1,834 candidates, and the sparsely populated Balochistan is witnessing participation from 1,273 candidates.