LAHORE – Advance booking of caterers, decorators, cooks, transporters, painters and electricians has been done by the candidates of all parties even before the formal beginning of election campaign.
Candidates have not kick started their election campaigns because in many constituencies major political parties did not nominate their contestants but hopeful runners have started hiring services of caterers, electricians and cooks.
Though the election commission has banned the provision of transport facility for the voters by candidates, violating the ECP Code of Conduct, the majority of candidates are hiring transport to facilitate their supporters and voters. Caterers, transporters, and event managers are making most of the situation by charging exceedingly from the candidates.
Some businessmen are financing the campaigns of candidates and arranging the services of event managers and transporters for their candidates. On the other hand, some caterers, cooks and electricians say while talking to TheNation that they are charging normally because the election campaign is yet to start formally.
Munir Ahmad, a caterer, says that caterers would release their election-rate list once the election campaign would gain momentum.
A light decorator says that he is not charging extra, acknowledging that some of the event mangers were exploiting the situation.
Whereas, some political workers say that caterers and decorators are exploiting the situation and charging excessively.