Amid widespread scrutiny, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz has paid Rs27 million [PKR 2.7 crores] for using the provincial government’s official aircraft during her recent private trip to London.
According to a National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) deposit slip doing the rounds on social media, and shared by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Hina Pervaiz Butt among others, CM Maryam has submitted a whopping Rs27,194,004 for using said aircraft to attend her daughter Mahnoor’s graduation ceremony.
Earlier, the trip came under criticism from opposition figures and journalists, with questions raised over alleged use of public funds to cover aircraft-related expenses.
Reacting to the scrutiny, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari had said that CM Maryam paid for the trip out of her own pocket; however, the claim had prompted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) Meher Bano Qureshi to ask if “receipts” proving the same would be released publicly.
It may be noted that the discussion surrounding the use of government-owned aircraft started after journalist Muhammad Malick discussed the estimated costs of the trip on his show. Malick had claimed that parking the aircraft at Luton Airport for three days cost around Rs3.5 million, while he estimated its fuel cost at around Rs7.8 million based on the aircraft’s manual.
He had then called on the Punjab government to clarify whether CM Maryam had personally covered the aircraft-related expenses.
