Multan: The revised Code of Conduct of the Election Commission has allowed the expenditure of Rs1.5 million to a National Assembly candidate, and Rs1 million to his provincial counterpart, to run their respective campaigns, but apparently no one has taken it seriously. The actual expenses are many times over the official limit and that has opened several opportunities for the business community.

The candidates have spending money on establishing elections offices in various areas across their constituencies, organizing public meetings, arranging transportation and publicity campaigns.

“I have established 70 election offices in various areas of my constituency. I need many more, but I can’t afford that many because each such office means spending Rs25-30,000,” said a provincial assembly candidate on the condition of anonymity.

He said that he was bound to bear all the expenses of his election offices, including rent, provision of mobile phones and phone cards that are used by his teams, meals, refreshments, electricity, transport, furniture and tentage. He said the revised election date from Jan 8 to Feb 18 meant additional expenses for 40 days. He had already spent Rs5 million on his electioneering, while the D-day itself entailed an expenditure worth a few millions.

In line with his party’s policy, he said he and the other candidate of the provincial wing were also bearing the expenses of the electioneering of their NA candidate.

Another candidate for a provincial assembly seat said that he had spent only Rs2 million because he was lucky enough to have a friends who had come to his rescue. Besides, the cooperative attitude of his party’s NA candidate had also eased his financial worries, he said.

Muhammad Kashif, who runs a printing press here, said large-scale printing houses were the actual beneficiaries of the seasonal bonanza, while the small ones had to put up with only the middle class supporters of various candidates. While actual costs depend on the size of the order, average cost per piece is generally around Rs2-5 for stickers, Rs2.5 for small posters and rs5 for the large ones. He said the prices of stickers and printing paper had also gone up by Rs300 because of the hectic activity these days.

People who generally decorate wedding beds are now providing their services to political candidates, making party flags for which they are charging Rs15 for a three-colour flag and Rs20-25 for a flag with an image.

Candidates are also using marriage halls for their electioneering which is a new phenomenon in the country’s electoral history. These are comparatively safe options than holding a meeting in the open, and also provide separate area where potential supporters are feted to their heart’s content. According to a provincial assembly candidate, hall administrations charge Rs50-60 for catering, lighting and services per head, while meals cost according to the choice of the menu. Because of these feasts, prices of food stuff have also experience a hike. For instance, broiler meat that was available for Rs75-85 per kilogram earlier is now being sold for as high as Rs130-140.

A cloth merchant, Muhammad Shafiq, said that the price of cotton-based fabric had gone up by Rs5-10 per meter because of the high demand in the election season. This is so despite the fact that the panaflex technology – Rs16-18 per square foot – has reduced the pressure on the sale of cloth which earlier used to be the only tool to cater to the visibility factor in a campaign. Despite all the posters and panaflex billboards, candidates are still hiring the services of painters to do their sketches on walls and hoardings.

On the transportation front, a rent-a-car owner said all his vehicles have been hired by the candidates and even his personal car had been rented out. Motorcycles, rickshaws and four-wheeler were all in demand as well.

Cable operators are also getting their share of the election activity and promotional CDs are being played round the clock on various channels. But such expenses are no match to the amount being spent some candidates on running advertisements on television channels and newspapers. According to sources, a National Assembly candidate has spent Rs5 million on publicity through national newspapers alone, while he is also obliging the local newspapers.