Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has paid more than Rs27.19 million to the Punjab government for the use of the provincial government’s aircraft during her recent private visit to London.
According to bank slips available, Maryam Nawaz paid Rs27,194,004 from her own funds, and a copy of the bank slip related to the payment has also surfaced.
The payment follows several days of political debate over the chief minister’s use of the Punjab government aircraft for the London visit.
Maryam Nawaz travelled to London earlier this month to attend the graduation ceremony of her youngest daughter, Mahnoor Safdar, at SOAS University of London. The visit was described as private, prompting opposition parties and critics to question the use of a government aircraft.
The Punjab government had maintained from the beginning that the cost of the journey would not be borne by taxpayers. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari had said that the chief minister would pay the aircraft expenses from her own pocket. Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb later repeated that position.
The matter also reached the Punjab Assembly, where opposition lawmaker Waqas Mahmood Maan submitted an adjournment motion seeking details of the trip. The motion questioned the legal and administrative authority for using the government aircraft for a private journey and sought information about the expenses and financial approvals involved.
Reports regarding the aircraft bill later showed that the amount was revised more than once. According to a report published on September 17, the first bill was issued for Rs29,365,976, before being revised to Rs28,037,844 and finally reduced to Rs27,194,004.
Earlier reports on Thursday said confirmation of the final payment had not yet been received. The subsequent report of the cheque indicates that Maryam Nawaz has now paid the final billed amount to the Punjab government.
The controversy had largely centred on whether public resources should be used for a private overseas trip and whether the government would recover the full cost. The Punjab government has consistently said that Maryam Nawaz would personally bear the expenses associated with the aircraft.
