PTI criticises VIP vehicle spending

Alleges growing disconnect between leadership, people

LAHORE:

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has criticised the Punjab government for approving the purchase of hundreds of high-end vehicles for officials amid ongoing economic hardship and underfunded public services.

In an statement, the party said the government has allocated over Rs2.1 billion for 283 official vehicles, including 10 bulletproof vehicles costing Rs500 million for senior police officers, 48 protocol vehicles priced at Rs900 million and 76 cars for ministers and senior bureaucrats at an estimated Rs710 million. Additional spending on fuel and maintenance will also be required.

The PTI said the spending reflects a "growing disconnect" between the leadership and the people of Punjab who continue to face inflation, unemployment and deteriorating public services.

It highlighted significant increases in allocations for elite government offices. The budget for the Governor House has increased by 870 per cent to Rs1.53 billion, while allocations for provincial ministers have more than tripled to Rs1.07 billion, it stated.

The Chief Minister's Office received a 19% hike to Rs1.46 billion, and the Punjab Assembly's budget rose 47% to Rs7.38 billion. The commissioners' offices reportedly overspent Rs319 million during current financial year and are now allocated Rs1.85 billion for the next fiscal year. The Chief Minister's Inspection Team's budget also increased by 26% following unauthorised spending of Rs182 million.

"These spending patterns are a political indictment of the government's misplaced priorities," the PTI said. "While basic sectors like health, education, and agriculture remain underfunded, public officials are rewarding themselves with expensive perks."

The party also criticised the chief minister's prolonged absence from the assembly despite a growing budget for her office, calling it a "symbol of the administration's lack of accountability".

The party demanded a forensic audit by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) into the luxury vehicle purchases and the associated budget increases. It called for immediate reversal of unauthorised expenditures and legal action against those responsible for diverting public resources.