Pakistan: Hunger on Ground, Luxury in the Sky as Maryam Nawaz Faces Heat Over Jet

At a time when the people of Pakistan are facing poverty, hunger, and rising inflation, the country’s ruling elite are being accused of living a life of luxury.

 

 

Maryam Nawaz, Chief Minister of Punjab province and daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, has come under heavy criticism for purchasing a luxury private jet.

 

 

According to reports by Express Tribune, the Punjab government bought a Gulfstream GVII-G500 luxury aircraft. The cost of the aircraft is reported to be around 10–11 billion Pakistani rupees. Its registration number is N144S.

 

 

However, Punjab’s Information Minister Azma Bukhari said that the aircraft was not acquired for private or VIP use.

 

 

 

 

Following the news, opposition parties launched sharp attacks on Maryam Nawaz. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Jamaat-e-Islami questioned the timing of such an expensive purchase when the country is struggling with economic hardship.

 

 

PTI leader and former minister Moonis Ilahi said that the Punjab Chief Minister bought a jet worth 11 billion rupees, while the national airline Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was sold for only 10 billion rupees.

 

 

Jamaat-e-Islami chief Hafiz Naeem ur Rehman alleged that the aircraft was purchased for personal use, not public service. He said that while Punjab is facing child malnutrition and poverty but the government chose to spend public money on a luxury jet instead of helping the poor.