Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has defended her use of the provincial government’s aircraft during a recent trip to London, saying she personally paid around Rs27.5 million to cover the expenses.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Metro Green Electric Bus Service in Multan on Thursday, Maryam said the aircraft belonged to the office of the Punjab chief minister rather than to her personally. She questioned why she was being singled out over its use when similar aircraft facilities were available to other provincial chief ministers.
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Maryam Says She Paid Rs27.5 Million
Maryam said she had paid the cost of the aircraft trip to attend her daughter’s graduation ceremony in London from her own pocket.
She displayed what she described as a payment receipt and said the amount covered the aircraft-related expenses, including fuel, parking and other charges.
According to payment documents reported separately, Rs27,194,004 was deposited into the Punjab government’s treasury account on September 17. The amount was paid following earlier government assurances that Maryam would personally bear the cost of the trip.
The chief minister said she was accountable to Allah and the people rather than vloggers and YouTubers criticising her over the journey.
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“Keep criticising me. If your livelihood depends on criticising Maryam Nawaz, then let it continue,” she remarked.
‘The Aircraft Belongs to the Chief Minister’s Office’
Maryam rejected the suggestion that the aircraft was her personal property, saying it belonged to the Punjab government and was intended for use by the chief minister.
She argued that the demands of her office required her to travel frequently to different parts of Punjab as well as abroad.
The chief minister said she had previously travelled on commercial flights and had also hired aircraft when necessary. She questioned whether she was expected to use a motorcycle, Qingqi or public transport for official journeys between distant cities.
She also cited an incident in London when commercial flights were disrupted for several days, saying the government aircraft allowed her to return to Pakistan within two days.
Maryam Criticises KP Chief Minister’s Punjab Visit
During her address, Maryam also criticised the recent visit of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi to Punjab.
She claimed that the KP delegation had failed to receive significant public support during its visit and mocked claims that the visitors had come to “conquer Punjab.”
Maryam said she had questioned the Lahore deputy commissioner over the lack of arrangements for the visiting chief minister.
“I told him that guests had come and he should have sent at least 400 to 500 people to support them,” she said.
She further claimed that the visiting group used loudspeakers to tell people that Punjab was being governed by a “Form 47 government” but failed to attract a substantial response.
According to Maryam, the KP chief minister subsequently attempted to create a confrontation by claiming he was being kidnapped. She alleged that he tried to board a Punjab police vehicle but was asked by police officials to leave. These were claims made by the Punjab chief minister during her address.
‘Punjab Has Not Taken Anyone’s Share’
Maryam also rejected allegations that Punjab had taken away the rightful share of other provinces.
“Punjab has not taken anyone’s right; rather, it has given others its own share,” she said.
She defended her government’s development spending and pointed to projects involving public transport, roads, housing, healthcare and other sectors.
At the Multan event, she also highlighted the launch of the electric bus service, saying the buses would operate on major routes and include facilities such as wheelchair ramps and CCTV cameras.
The controversy over the official aircraft comes after Maryam’s London visit for her daughter Mahnoor Safdar’s graduation earlier this month. Her use of the Punjab government’s Gulfstream G500 for the private family event had drawn criticism from opposition figures and other commentators, prompting the chief minister and Punjab government officials to emphasise that she would personally cover the associated expenses
