<p class="title">Several restaurants across Pakistan were offering free food and free drinks as an incentive to make people vote as the country went to polls, according to media reports.</p>.<p class="bodytext">More than 20 popular eateries were offering meal deals and citizens will only have to show their "inky thumb" as proof to have fulfilled their civic duty, Geo News reported.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Restaurant Chupa Rustom, in Karachi, wrote on social media: "It requires a collective effort to make our country a better place and so every citizen must go out and vote.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"United we stand, stand for a change, stand for a better country, stand up, speak up!</p>.<p class="bodytext">"And all those voters are invited to Chupa Rustom for a complimentary halwa puri on showing a voting mark!!”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Fine dining restaurant Ambrosia in Karachi also shared the initiative on Facebook.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Vote responsibly! This 25th of July 2018, no matter who you vote for, we will serve you a FREE drink," the post read. "Just make sure you pay us a visit once you have voted."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Among the other eateries offering deals, there is Heisen Burger, Elemento Caffe’, The Deli, Espresso, Esquires, Burger Lab, Burger in Law, Del Frio and Amiamo Gelato.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On offer is a variety of food and drinks such as free giant cookies, gourmet fries, bakery products, ice-cream, coffee and coolers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">App-based taxi hailing company Careem is offering free rides to polling stations if you are willing to cast your vote.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A famous fashion brand in the country, Ideas by Gul Ahmed, is offering 50 per cent discount on all their products if one displays the vote mark.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"No vote goes to waste! You are not just a voter, you are a participant in building a better future. Show your inked thumb at Ideas by Gul Ahmed and get up to 50 per cent off on your purchase….," the company said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The voting in Pakistan started at 8 am local time on more than 85,000 polling stations. The counting of votes will be done on the spot soon after the conclusion of the polling process at 6 pm and the results will be announced within 24 hours.</p>.<p class="bodytext">More than 30 political parties have fielded their candidates for the elections.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Nearly 106 million people are registered to vote for members of the lower house of parliament and four provincial assemblies.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Imran Khan's party Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) will face the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), led by the family of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The National Assembly has 272 general seats up for grabs, and a further 577 Provincial Assembly seats could be taken.</p>.<p class="bodytext">To form the government, a party will need a total of 172 seats. </p>
<p class="title">Several restaurants across Pakistan were offering free food and free drinks as an incentive to make people vote as the country went to polls, according to media reports.</p>.<p class="bodytext">More than 20 popular eateries were offering meal deals and citizens will only have to show their "inky thumb" as proof to have fulfilled their civic duty, Geo News reported.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Restaurant Chupa Rustom, in Karachi, wrote on social media: "It requires a collective effort to make our country a better place and so every citizen must go out and vote.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"United we stand, stand for a change, stand for a better country, stand up, speak up!</p>.<p class="bodytext">"And all those voters are invited to Chupa Rustom for a complimentary halwa puri on showing a voting mark!!”</p>.<p class="bodytext">Fine dining restaurant Ambrosia in Karachi also shared the initiative on Facebook.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"Vote responsibly! This 25th of July 2018, no matter who you vote for, we will serve you a FREE drink," the post read. "Just make sure you pay us a visit once you have voted."</p>.<p class="bodytext">Among the other eateries offering deals, there is Heisen Burger, Elemento Caffe’, The Deli, Espresso, Esquires, Burger Lab, Burger in Law, Del Frio and Amiamo Gelato.</p>.<p class="bodytext">On offer is a variety of food and drinks such as free giant cookies, gourmet fries, bakery products, ice-cream, coffee and coolers.</p>.<p class="bodytext">App-based taxi hailing company Careem is offering free rides to polling stations if you are willing to cast your vote.</p>.<p class="bodytext">A famous fashion brand in the country, Ideas by Gul Ahmed, is offering 50 per cent discount on all their products if one displays the vote mark.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"No vote goes to waste! You are not just a voter, you are a participant in building a better future. Show your inked thumb at Ideas by Gul Ahmed and get up to 50 per cent off on your purchase….," the company said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The voting in Pakistan started at 8 am local time on more than 85,000 polling stations. The counting of votes will be done on the spot soon after the conclusion of the polling process at 6 pm and the results will be announced within 24 hours.</p>.<p class="bodytext">More than 30 political parties have fielded their candidates for the elections.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Nearly 106 million people are registered to vote for members of the lower house of parliament and four provincial assemblies.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Imran Khan's party Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) will face the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), led by the family of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The National Assembly has 272 general seats up for grabs, and a further 577 Provincial Assembly seats could be taken.</p>.<p class="bodytext">To form the government, a party will need a total of 172 seats. </p>