Lawmakers on Wednesday questioned the Punjab government’s purchase of a new private jet, even as the provincial information minister sought to defend the acquisition.
The controversy was brought up by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) MPA Shazia Abid, who asked whether the Rs. 11 billion plane would be available to MPAs for official visits to south Punjab. Rebutting the criticism, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari countered that if PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari could avail the Sindh government’s aircraft, the Punjab government was equally entitled to use its own plane.
To this, Opposition Leader Moin Riaz Qureshi demanded clarity on how the purchase was budgeted, whether it was bought for “Air Punjab” or exclusively for the use of the chief minister. He described the purchase of a “luxury jet” as unnecessary amidst ongoing economic challenges.
In response, Government Chief Whip Rana Arshad questioned why this particular purchase was attracting so much criticism when chief ministers of all provinces used official aircraft.
During the proceedings, the information minister also announced plans to purchase a new building, equipped with modern facilities, to consolidate all departmental offices of her ministry under one roof. She also addressed concerns over the Punjab Journalists Housing Foundation (PJHF), confirming its office would soon be shifted from a rented building to a commercial space in “Press Club Society.”
Bukhari admitted that previous recruitments in her department were not in accordance with merit, and announced the launch of a “restructuring drive” this year. “Only necessary positions will be retained; redundant seats will be abolished,” she claimed, adding performance reviews would soon follow.