Gulfstream G500 becomes a topic of discussion in Pakistan, people angry over royal ride worth Rs 1000 crore
Lahore. Chief Minister of Pakistan’s Punjab province Maryam Nawaz is facing severe criticism for purchasing a luxurious aircraft worth Pakistani Rupees (PKR) 11.7 billion for her personal use. According to Stratcom Bureau, the Punjab government has purchased a new Gulfstream G500 aircraft manufactured in 2019 for VIP transportation. It said the estimated cost of the aircraft is around US$42 million (11.7 billion PKR).
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said the Maryam Nawaz administration has acquired a 19-seat VIP aircraft as part of the proposed “Air Punjab” fleet. Opposition parties Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and Jamaat-e-Islami strongly criticized Maryam Nawaz, daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, for using public funds to finance her personal luxurious lifestyle.
Senior Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader and former federal minister Moonis Ilahi said, “The Punjab Chief Minister has bought an aircraft at a cost of PKR 11,000 crore, while the entire national airline of Pakistan – PIA – was sold for just PKR 10 billion.”
He said, “Punjab, a province with a population of 13 crores where people cannot even afford basic needs like food, clean water or medical treatment, and where there is a lack of funds even for sewer cover, has spent 11 billion Pakistani rupees on a plane for the Chief Minister.”
Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naimur Rehman strongly criticized Maryam Nawaz for buying an expensive and luxurious plane for her personal use while child malnutrition, poverty and social problems are increasing rapidly in the province.
Criticizing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for selling Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) at a very low price, he said, “On one hand, Punjab is witnessing a tremendous increase in cases of malnutrition among children and women, while on the other hand, a luxurious aircraft worth more than PKR 10 billion has been purchased for the Chief Minister.”
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