A total of 55, 971 candidates will be contesting the local government elections in Sindh and Punjab in the first phase on Saturday.
According to sources, 40,429 aspirants are in the run in Punjab and 15,542 in Sindh. The first phase of the polls is being held in 12 districts of Punjab and eight districts of Sindh.
The districts in Sindh where the polls are being held are Sukkur, Khairpur, Ghotki, Larkana, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Kashmore and Qamber.
In all, 1,801 contestants are in the field in Sindh to become members of district councils and another 6,004 are contesting the elections to become general member of union councils.
There are 1,113 candidates vying for the post of general member of union committees, 2,173 for the post of member of municipal committees and 2,506 for the taluka committees.
The 12 districts in Punjab that go to the polls on Oct 31 are Lahore, Faisalabad, Gujrat, Chakwal, Bhakkar, Nankana Sahib, Kasur, Pakpattan, Okara, Lodhran, Vehari and Bahwalnagar.
Twelve chairpersons and vice chairperson of union councils in the eight districts have already been elected unopposed and 6,307 candidates for these slots in other districts are in the field. Besides, 33,794 candidates are contesting for the post of general member of union councils, wards and municipal committees. There are 124 women contesting for the posts of chairperson, vice chairperson and for general seats.
A total of 204 non-Muslim candidates are also in the run for these slots in the 12 districts.