Of helicopters and buffaloes: Haque says ‘surplus’ items to be auctioned

Buffaloes kept at PM House for Nawaz's 'gastronomic requirements'

The government, in an effort to tighten its fiscal belt and introduce wide-ranging austerity measures, will auction helicopters and buffaloes according to a top functionary.



Prime Minister’s Special Assistant for Political Affairs Naeemul Haque said in a tweet on Tuesday that the government intends to sell four helicopters allotted to the cabinet division and are lying "unused".

Haque added that among the items to be auctioned, which previously included vehicles and helicopters, are eight buffaloes which were kept at the PM House for deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif's "gastronomic requirements".

After the surplus car auction , 4 surplus helicopters will be sold which are lying unused with the cabinet division. Plus , now listen to this, 8 buffaloes which Nawaz kept at the PM house for his gastronomic requirements. So all potential buyers please get ready.

— Naeem ul Haque (@naeemul_haque) September 10, 2018

Soon after being elected as the prime minister, Imran in his maiden address labelled the lavish lifestyles of Pakistan’s ruling elite as a “colonial-era mindset”. He said that PTI’s government at the Centre and provinces would rigorously pursue an austerity drive and that he had opted not to live in a grand mansion like the Prime Minister’s House.

As part of the premier's promise to cut-down expenses, the federal government had decided to auction 35 Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) vehicles.