Pakistan

Rs257m spent on PM’s foreign trips during first year in rule

That’s about Rs0.7 million every day between 2013 and 2014

Zahid Gishkori May 18, 2015

At least Rs257 million were spent on the visits during first year of his office as the premier. PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: Between May 2013 and June 2014, at least Rs257 million -- or Rs0.7 million per day -- was spent on 15 of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's foreign trips, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The disclosure was made in the ministry's reply submitted to the National Assembly on Monday.

Prime Minister Nawaz's most costly trip was to the US in September 2013 with a total of Rs91.6 million spent.

Read: PM Nawaz kicks off four-day US trip

The prime minister visited the US in October 2013 again, for which around Rs35 million was used from government funds to pay for the trip.

His trip to the UK in May 2014 cost Rs22.2 million.

On November 27, the federal government told the Lahore High Court that at least Rs30.7 million was spent on the premier’s trip to New York.

Read: 'Over Rs30 million spent on PM’s recent trip to New York'

The deputy attorney general told the court that Parliament had approved a fund for the premier’s foreign tours.

Below is a chart of the prime minister's three most costly trips since he took office.

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PM's foreign visits
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COMMENTS (12)

Aschraful Makhlooq | 9 years ago | Reply Poor Pakistani people's and nation's king and luxurious leaders.Shame on us Pakistanis we choose repeatedly such these types of kings as our leaders who waste millions of Rupees just on their useless and luxurious foreign tours and claim to be sincere,honest and loyal with Pakistan and Pakistani people and claim hypocritically in their speeches the simplicity,modesty and humility.Such these types of leaders are the calamities on us from Allah Almighty due to our great sins we commit proudly and fearlessly and for such these types of leaders Pakistan is a golden bird and they try their utmost and best to be the Pakistan's leaders and will our leaders define that how many foreign investors invested their money in Pakistan against the Rs.275 mn Rupees wasted on foreign tours?????

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J. Alfred Prufrock | 9 years ago | Reply Has anyone realised that Rs 257m is about $2.5m, which is almost nothing for a head of state's yearly travel expenses. Find a better story tribune.

N | 9 years ago | Reply 257 MILLION IS PEANUT REGARDING WHAT PM NAWAZ SHERIF IS DOING FOR THE BETTERMENT OF PAKISTAN AND PEOPLE Long live Pakistan Long live Nawaz Sharif

Zain | 9 years ago | Reply And how much was spent on foreign trips of COAS to Saudi, Sri Lanka, UK, US, Qatar, China, Malaysia etc?

ziaurrehman | 9 years ago | Reply @Atheist_Pakisani: That's NOon league for u! :)

Concerned Pakistani | 9 years ago | Reply How can I forget that news printed in daily Jang when PM visited UK that PM opted to stay in his "house" in London rather than staying at hotel to save money!

Ranjha | 9 years ago | Reply Pukka Noora. Living a life of junkets on poor Pakistani's hard earned money. Utterly disgusting and shameful.

syed & syed | 9 years ago | Reply The name of Nawaz Shareef PM permanent residence Jati Umra at present residing in Prime Minister House be placed on ECL unless he pays back money he spent on so called official trips

Zak | 9 years ago | Reply This is called economic terrorism another form of robbing our country for selfish interests that's why he's also the foreign minister to enjoy multiple visits when rest of the country is paying tax these culprits are enjoying foreign lands wasting public money accountability need to be done but I don't trust any institute who could challenge him.

Zaheer | 9 years ago | Reply The prime minister urges nation that his government is committed for the development of the country and will change the living standard of the people but despite tall claims the present govt even failed to control the load shedding, water crisis, price hike, law & order and education standard in the country. While the PM of the poor nation expending large amount from the national exchequer for his trips abroad. The question arises here is that what message we are conveying to other countries as we always ask for loan from IMF & International institutions and pay millions of rupees as interest only. If our PM is serious than why can't he cut out budget for his foreign trips and PM House. The irony is that our leaders themselves not ready to leave their luxurious living style is'nt it a hypocrisy. We are the poor country, poor nation and the richest leaders.

Atheist_Pakisani | 9 years ago | Reply Seriously, why can't any money be used to increase quality of public education or improving the lifes of the common man? Why do we have open sewer in Islamabad?

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