According to a press statement, Defence Secretary Lt Gen (retd) Hamood-Uz-Zaman Khan and Additional Secretary Maj Gen Khurram Sarfraz Khan briefed ECP officials on the country’s security situation.
The officials told the electoral authority that the military prioritises its main duties, which is to safeguard the borders and the country.
"The military isn't currently available to render elections duties in view of the country's current situation," they said.
They further said that the current economic situation of the country has an impact on the military, too.
It will be the government's decision to limit the army to its main duties or to deploy them to fulfil their secondary responsibilities, they maintained.
The officials also clarified that in case of polling duties, army can be deployed in a quick reaction force mode, rather than in a static mode.
Earlier, the ECP urgently demanded a budget of Rs15 billion for conducting elections in Punjab and KP.
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CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja presided over a vital meeting, where the electoral body announced that Rs20 billion will be needed for the elections. Only Rs5 billion of this total has been given to the commission thus far, leaving a Rs15 billion gap.
The commission urged the government to swiftly release the required cash so that election preparations can move forward without more hiccups.
To guarantee that money and security would be available, the finance secretary and home secretary were invited to the conference.
ECP told finance secretary that a staggering Rs65 billion would be needed to conduct general elections throughout the country.
On the other hand, the finance secretary shed light on the challenging economic situation in the country and expressed difficulties in providing the necessary funds.
On March 1, the Supreme Court of Pakistan ordered that elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa must take place within the next 90 days.