Colonel Muhammad Saad Ali, the project director of EMS, explains that their system doesn’t rely on the Internet but uses a private network within the election commission.
This network is set up across the country with the help of companies like PTCL.
In each constituency, three laptops are provided for the provincial assembly and four for the National Assembly. Even if the internet connection is lost, these laptops can still work offline using a local area network (LAN) in each returning officer’s office.
One laptop in each constituency will display ongoing results for people in the returning officer’s office to see. The presiding officer can send results to the returning officer by capturing an image and sharing it through a mobile phone. The image shows where and when it was taken.
If there’s no internet, the image will be saved and sent when the connection is restored. Even if Form 45 (official result document) can’t be submitted for some time, the system keeps a record of the data.
Colonel Saad Ali also mentioned that while electricity may not affect the system due to laptop facilities, connectivity might be impacted. Returning officers are advised to arrange backup power sources like UPS to ensure continuous operation.