Surab’s voter registration rate stands at 20% of its estimated 2025 population — 34 percentage points below the national ratio of 54%.
Methodology
These figures are drawn from district-wise electoral roll statistics released by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on 30 December 2025. They are cross-referenced against population estimates derived from the 2023 Digital Census. The 2025 population estimate applies the 5.59% inter-censal annual growth rate to Surab’s census base population of 279,038, yielding an estimated 2025 population of 311,106. Registration rates are calculated by dividing the number of registered voters by this estimated population.
Voter registration in Surab
The district has 61,523 registered voters — 33,257 males (54.1%) and 28,266 females (45.9%). Among males, 21% of the estimated population is registered; among females, 18%. Surab ranks 117th out of 136 districts nationally by population size and is constituting approximately one-third of a National Assembly constituency shared with adjoining districts.
By voter registration rate, Surab ranks 132nd nationally and 33rd of 34 within Balochistan.
Why registration trails the national ratio
Surab’s critically low voter registration rate reflects two compounding factors. Geographic remoteness severely limits access to NADRA documentation centres and ECP registration facilities.
Nomadic and semi-nomadic communities whose census enumeration location differs from their permanent CNIC address produce a systematic mismatch between the population denominator and the voter roll. High inter-censal population growth also means that a large share of residents is under 18 and not yet eligible to register.
Female voters constitute 45.9% of the registered electorate, reflecting a significant gender gap of 8.1%. A sustained NADRA and ECP presence is essential to raise both overall and female registration in Surab.
This post is part of FAFEN’s series on voter vs population ratio. Read more of this series here.
