Nawaz foreign trips cost Rs638 million

PM visited Saudi Arabia five times, followed by US and China which he visited four times


Our Correspondent February 17, 2016
PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD:


Parliament-shy Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has spent more time abroad than in the house which elected him to office in his tenure so far.


According to data presented in the National Assembly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the premier spent a total of 185 days abroad in 65 foreign tours with accompanying staff of 631 officers which cost the exchequer Rs638.27 million.

Nawaz in Iran with sweet and sour memories

By contrast, the premier visited the National Assembly just 35 times during his 940 days in power.

Of all the countries Nawaz visited, he frequented United Kingdom the most –a whopping 17 times. According to the data provided, he spent nearly two months in the UK, of which 32 days were listed as official stays while 24 were listed as transits. However, during each transit, the premier stopped for at least a couple of days which cost the nation Rs137.8 million.

He visited Saudi Arabia five times, followed by US and China which he visited four times. However, after UK, Nawaz had spent the most time in the US visiting the superpower for 18 days.

PM Nawaz, army chief head to Saudi, Iran to mend rift

Turkey was another favoured destination for Nawaz who is known to harbour close ties with the nation. He has visited the country at least once every year.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18th, 2016.

COMMENTS (44)

globalobserver | 8 years ago | Reply Rs. 838 million equal about $6 million. That is not that big a sum at all for a prime minister compared to what the Indian politicians force the tax payer to spend on their frivolous trips.
syed & syed | 8 years ago | Reply Nawaz Shareef rose from a foundry and now he and his family own palaces and apartments abroad and billions in foreign banks. He is good business man and is supposed to look after his investments since will need it when shunted out of Pakistan. All his trips were private and should be recovered from him by auctioning Jati Umra and Model Town Kothis. As said he is good in making roads and bridges so he may may launch a construction company. Needless to say that his younger brother Shabaz Sahib is also not legging behind an ashiq of Turkey awarding contract to keep Lahore clean because we are short of sweepers...
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