Karak: The voter registration rate in Karak district has reached 60% of its estimated 2025 population, outpacing the national average of 54% by six percentage points. This significant achievement underscores the district’s proactive engagement in the electoral process, setting it apart from many regions across Pakistan.
According to Free and Fair Election Network, these figures are based on district-wise electoral roll statistics from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), released on December 30, 2025. The registration data is compared against population estimates derived from the 2023 Digital Census, which applied a 2.46% annual growth rate to Karak’s base population of 815,878, resulting in an estimated 2025 population of 856,514. The registration rate was determined by dividing the number of registered voters, 518,112, by the estimated population.
The district’s voter registration comprises 273,137 males, representing 52.7% of the voters, and 244,975 females, making up 47.3%. Among the male population, 62% are registered, while 59% of the female population is registered. Karak ranks 92nd by population size out of 136 districts nationally and is represented by a single Member of the National Assembly. By registration rate, it stands 20th nationally and 8th among 35 districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Two key rules from the 2023 Digital Census contribute to Karak’s registration exceeding the national ratio. Firstly, household members absent for more than six months were not counted at their home address. Secondly, those who had moved were recorded at their current address. This was particularly significant given the district’s labor migration patterns, with many residents relocating to urban centers and abroad, being counted at their destinations but remaining registered in Karak based on their permanent CNIC addresses.
Female voters, constituting 47.3% of the electorate, reflect a gender gap of 5.4%. While Karak’s overall registration rate is commendable, continued efforts are necessary to achieve equitable female voter registration.