Karachi West’s voter registration rate stands at 35% of its estimated 2025 population — 19 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 4.35% inter-censal annual growth rate to Karachi West’s census base population of 2,679,380, yielding an estimated 2025 population of 2,917,557. Registration rates are calculated by dividing the number of registered voters by this estimated population.

Voter registration in Karachi West

The district has 1.0 million registered voters — 580,402 males (57.0%) and 437,662 females (43.0%). Among males, 38% of the estimated population is registered; among females, 32%. Karachi West ranks 25th out of 136 districts nationally by population size and is represented by three Members of the National Assembly.

By voter registration rate, Karachi West ranks 118th nationally and 29th of 30 within Sindh.

Why registration trails the national ratio

Karachi West’s below-average registration rate reflects a pattern common to Pakistan’s major urban centres. Both census enumeration rules apply here: in-migrants residing in Karachi West for more than six months were counted here at census time, not at their origin household.

These individuals remain registered as voters in their origin district on the basis of their permanent CNIC address. This inflates Karachi West’s census-based population denominator without a corresponding increase in the local voter roll, depressing the voter-to-population ratio below the national average.

A significant gender gap compounds this structural deficit: female voters account for only 43.0% of the registered electorate — 142,740 fewer than male voters. Women’s registration stands at 32% of the estimated female population, against a male rate of 38%. This suggests genuine non-registration of women alongside the in-migration enumeration effect. Targeted registration campaigns for women in Karachi West are needed ahead of the next general elections.

This post is part of FAFEN’s series on voter vs population ratio. Read more of this series here.