Maryam Nawaz Defends Use of Punjab Government Aircraft for London Trip

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has defended her use of the Punjab government’s official aircraft for her daughter’s graduation in London, saying she paid Rs27.5 million for the trip and the aircraft belongs to the office of the chief minister.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Metro Green Electric Bus Service in Multan on Thursday, Maryam Nawaz responded to criticism over the Punjab government’s purchase and use of the aircraft.

She said the Rs 9 billion aircraft was not her personal plane but belonged to the office of the chief minister. She also said the facility was available to all four provincial chief ministers.

The chief minister said she had faced criticism over her London visit because she used the government aircraft to attend her daughter’s graduation. She maintained that she paid the trip expenses, Rs 27.5 million, herself.

She said she was not answerable to YouTubers or vloggers and was accountable to the public and taxpayers. She also held up a “receipt” of the expenses on her mobile phone while referring to the payment record.

Reports cited in the supplied material put the actual payment at Rs 27,194,004, deposited into the Punjab government treasury for the aircraft’s use. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari had earlier said Maryam would bear the expenses.

“Today, as I was coming here, I thought since there has been so much criticism, perhaps I should go by Qingqi or motorcycle, or if there is a metro bus, I can take it till here from Lahore,” she said sarcastically.

Maryam Says Official Trips Are Part of Her Work

Maryam Nawaz said a chief minister’s visits cannot be treated as personal because she continues to work while travelling.

She said she had used the aircraft for visits to countries including Brazil, Japan, China, and Türkiye. She said these trips allowed her to present the Punjab government’s work and projects.

“I was not supposed to go to other countries riding a motorcycle,” she said.

Time Is Important

The chief minister also said she could not afford to lose contact with her government during travel. She cited an incident during her London trip when several commercial flights were cancelled because of a problem with the UK’s air traffic control.

According to Maryam, passengers on commercial flights had to extend their stays by five to six days. She said being able to use the official aircraft prevented her from losing that time.

After telling that she did not have time to waste, she mentioned, “I do not wake up at 2:00 PM. I work until midnight, wake up at 8:00 AM, and come back to work. I do not take holidays.”

Ease of Access

She also said the aircraft helps her reach different parts of Punjab for development projects. She referred to travelling by car, plane, and boat during different projects and emergencies.

Anti-Corruption Measures

On anti-corruption measures, she said action had been taken against officials in the police, revenue, and Anti-Corruption Department. She claimed that around 600 police officers had been arrested and dismissed over corruption allegations.

Future Plans

Maryam said she would not take the aircraft with her when her tenure ends.

She concluded with, “So, I only want to say that I will continue to come and go. Thank you very much.”