LHC seeks update on purchase of vehicles

Chief secretary had allocated Rs2.3b for new cars for govt functionaries

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court's (LHC) Justice Sultan Tanvir has directed the finance department to provide updates to the court after receiving instructions from the authorities concerned regarding a plea challenging the purchase of new vehicles for public functionaries.

The plea was filed by Sardar Farhat Manzoor Khan Chandio and others.

During the proceedings, the finance department's official informed the court that no tender had been issued yet.

In response, Justice Tanvir instructed the official to present the instructions from the quarters concerned.

The LHC is also hearing another petition in which the finance department's notification for the allocation of Rs2.3 billion to purchase new vehicles for public functionaries was challenged.

The petitioner, represented by advocate Mudasar Chaudhry, urged the court to restrain the provincial government's finance department from making this purchase.

The petitioner's counsel argued that Pakistan is facing various challenges, including terrorism, inflation, and economic problems, which are worsening day by day.

The politicians and political parties in Pakistan are engaged in internal conflicts, showing little interest in implementing economic reforms.

Consequently, the poverty ratio in Pakistan is rapidly increasing, making life miserable for common people.

In this context, the government's finance department requested the provincial government for an advance drawl to purchase new vehicles for officers working in the offices of Board of Revenue Punjab Headquarter, Divisional Commissioners, and Assistant Commissioners Punjab.

In response, the chief secretary allocated the amount of Rs2.3 billion for this purpose.

However, the petitioner contends that this decision goes against the fundamental rights of the common citizens of Punjab.