‘Imran’s helicopter commute cost Rs432.94m’

ISLAMABAD:

The detailed report of the expenses of the helicopter used by former prime minister Imran Khan was presented in the Senate on Friday by the commanding officer of the 6 Aviation Squadron.

Meanwhile, according to documents detailing helicopter expenses shared by State Minister for Law and Justice Shahadat Awan, Imran made the 15km journey from his private home – Bani Gala – to his official residence – Prime Minister House – by helicopter.

During his time in office from 2019 to March 2022, the travelling expenses amounted to Rs275,000 per hour.

The helicopter was used for more than 497 hours in 2019 and the estimated cost was Rs131.94 million. In 2020, the expenditure for 522 hours was more than Rs143 million.

Sharing the breakdown of the helicopter expenses incurred by Imran Khan, the minister said that in 2021, Imran used the helicopter for 450 hours and an estimate of Rs123 million was made for its use.

From January 2022 to March 2022, the helicopter was used for 127 hours and the expenditure was estimated at over Rs35 million.

It may be noted here that the former prime minister’s choice of transport has come under criticism several times during his time in office and after he was toppled last year for being “too lavish” given his promises to make bureaucrats and politicians tighten their belts.

In April last year, days after a no-confidence motion toppled the PTI government, newly-appointed Information and Broadcasting Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb had claimed that the federal government incurred Rs984.35 million in helicopter expenses of former prime minister Imran Khan for his travel from Bani Gala to the PM Office when he was in power.

The minister had claimed that around Rs472.36 million were incurred while helicopter maintenance had cost more than the travel expenses – Rs511.995 million.