Nearly 6,50,000 security personnel have been deployed across poll-bound Pakistan as authorities were busy setting up polling stations to enable more than 12.85 crore registered voters to cast their ballot in the general election on Thursday.

Stepped-up security is imperative given the spree of violence with the latest being two devastating bomb blasts targeting election offices on Wednesday in the restive Balochistan province that saw at least 25 people killed and more than 40 others injured.

Radio Pakistan reported that about 6,50,000 security personnel have been deployed on the ground to ensure the security of the voters. These include the personnel of police, civil armed forces, and the armed forces. The personnel of the armed forces will perform duties outside the polling stations.

Polling will begin at 8am (local time) on Thursday and continue till 5pm. According to the Election Commission of Pakistan, a total of 12,85,85,760 voters were eligible to vote from among 5,121 candidates for the National Assembly seats, including 4,807 male, 312 female, and two trans-genders.

For the four provincial assemblies, 12,695 candidates are in the field, including 12,123 males, 570 women, and two transgenders. The process of transporting the ballot boxes, ballot papers, and special screens to guard the secrecy of ballots when they are stamped before putting inside the ballot boxes and other relevant material was going smoothly.