Punjab to spend Rs617m on 79 new luxury vehicles for VVIPs in Pakistan

The Punjab government is set to purchase 79 new luxury vehicles, including bulletproof cars, for provincial ministers, parliamentary secretaries, and foreign dignitaries attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Islamabad. The total cost of this purchase is estimated to be Rs612.475 million.

The government aims to strengthen its transport pool with luxury vehicles, especially to accommodate the recently appointed 29 parliamentary secretaries in the province. The procurement also includes vehicles for escorting provincial ministers and providing VVIP protocol duties during the SCO summit.

Additional vehicles, such as Toyota Fortuners and Corolla Altis, are required to fulfill the expanding needs of the provincial cabinet and parliamentary secretaries. The government is taking these steps considering the law and order situation in the province and the upcoming high-profile events like the SCO summit.

The purchase plan includes a variety of vehicles, with a focus on luxury and security features, to meet the demands of official duties and protocol requirements. The Standing Committee of Cabinet on Finance & Development has been briefed about these plans, highlighting the necessity and urgency of this procurement.

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2024