Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has paid Rs27.19 million, or around Rs2.71 crore, to the provincial government for using its official aircraft during her recent private visit to London.
According to reports published on September 17, the amount deposited was Rs27,194,004. The payment covers the expenses linked to the use of the government aircraft for the trip.
Maryam travelled to London earlier this month to attend the graduation ceremony of her daughter, Mahnoor Safdar, at SOAS University of London. She returned to Lahore on Wednesday, September 9. Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari had earlier said that the chief minister would personally pay the expenses of the visit.
The use of the provincial aircraft had sparked questions in the Punjab Assembly. PTI MPA Waqas Mahmood Maan submitted an adjournment motion seeking details about the reported costs and the legal authority under which the aircraft was used. Initial reports had put fuel, parking and related expenses at about Rs12.5 million.
The reported payment now places the total aircraft-related cost at Rs27.19 million, although questions about the approval and accounting of the trip remain part of the ongoing discussion.
