Maryam Nawaz pays Rs27.19m after using govt plane for London trip
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has paid Rs27,194,004 to the Punjab government for the use of its official aircraft during her recent private visit to London, according to reports.
The payment follows public discussion over the use of the provincial government’s aircraft for the trip. Maryam Nawaz travelled to London to attend her daughter’s graduation ceremony.
Amount deposited into government treasury
According to reports published on September 17, Rs27,194,004 has been deposited into the government treasury against the cost of using the official aircraft. The reported payment is equivalent to around Rs27.19 million.
The development provides a specific figure for the aircraft expenses after earlier statements said that Maryam Nawaz would pay the costs herself. The reported amount covers the expenses associated with the use of the government aircraft during the London visit.
Earlier statement said CM would pay expenses
The issue gained attention after Maryam Nawaz’s use of the provincial government aircraft for her London trip came under discussion. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari had defended the chief minister’s use of the aircraft, saying that Maryam Nawaz would pay all expenses from her own funds.
Bokhari said the chief minister had personally covered the aircraft-related costs of the visit. The statement was made after questions were raised about whether public funds had been used for the private trip.
Hina Parvez Butt confirms payment
PML-N leader Hina Parvez Butt also confirmed the payment on social media. She said Maryam Nawaz had paid all expenses related to the use of the government aircraft.
According to reports, a cheque was submitted for the amount deposited into the government treasury. The reported payment now puts a specific figure on the aircraft expenses that had previously been discussed without a publicly confirmed amount.
London trip had earlier triggered questions
Maryam Nawaz’s London visit had attracted attention because she used the Punjab government’s official aircraft while travelling for her daughter’s graduation ceremony. The trip was described as private, while government officials maintained that the chief minister would personally bear the expenses.
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The use of the provincial aircraft led to questions about the cost of the journey and how the aircraft expenses would be handled. A Punjab Assembly member later submitted an adjournment motion seeking details about the reported expenditure and the authority under which the aircraft was used.
Punjab Assembly seeks details
Independent MPA Waqas Mahmood Maan submitted the adjournment motion in the Punjab Assembly.
The motion sought information about the reported use of the government aircraft and the expenses associated with the London trip. According to the motion, earlier reports had put the aircraft-related expenditure at around Rs12.5 million.
The lawmaker sought clarification about the legal and administrative authority under which the government aircraft was used and how the expenses were to be paid. The later reported payment of Rs27,194,004 is higher than the amount mentioned in the earlier assembly motion, showing that different figures had circulated during the controversy.
Questions over aircraft use remain
The payment addresses the reported cost of the aircraft, but questions surrounding the use of a government aircraft for a private trip had already led to political discussion. The Punjab government’s position has been that Maryam Nawaz personally paid the expenses.
Opposition figures and other critics had sought details of the costs and documentation showing how the payment was made. The Punjab Assembly motion also called for clarification regarding the legal and financial basis for the aircraft’s use.
