Several social media posts suggested that the Punjab government had approved the procurement of luxury cars worth approximately Rs100 crore for bureaucrats, but the story remained a rumour until it was validated by Geo Fact Check.
According to a Twitter user, the Punjab government is spending Rs989 million to buy 93 vehicles from Toyota Indus Motor Company, including more than 40 Toyota Fortuner SUVs. “It is an organised crime with a very high sense of entitlement,” the user further added, sharing an alleged notification from the revenue department Punjab.
The Board of Revenue’s headquarters in Lahore provided Geo with a copy of the official notification.
According to the document, the Punjab assembly’s standing committee of cabinet on finance and development has instructed that Rs989 million be spent on the purchase of 93 luxury cars for provincial bureaucrats.
40 Toyota Fortuner SUVs will be purchased for Deputy Commissioners in Punjab at a cost of Rs533,600,000.
While 12 Corolla X vehicles will be acquired for members of the revenue board and 41 Hilux 4×4 vehicles will be distributed to extra deputy commissioners (revenue). The total cost of all 93 vehicles will be Rs989,116,000.
The notification was sent to Indus Motors in Lahore “through Toyota Gujrat Motors,” it said.
