Maryam Nawaz pays Rs27.19m for London jet, documents emerge

Documents cited by Minute Mirror show that an amount of Rs27,194,004 was deposited through the National Bank of Pakistan against the aircraft-related

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has reportedly deposited Rs27.194 million into the provincial government treasury to cover the cost of using the official aircraft during her recent London visit, bringing a new development to the controversy surrounding the trip.

Documents cited by Minute Mirror show that an amount of Rs27,194,004 was deposited through the National Bank of Pakistan against the aircraft-related expenses. The payment follows earlier statements from Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari that the chief minister would bear the expenses of the London journey from her own funds.

The reported payment comes after questions were raised by opposition figures and other commentators over the use of the Punjab government’s Gulfstream aircraft for what was described as a private visit to London. Maryam Nawaz travelled to the UK to attend her daughter’s graduation ceremony and returned to Lahore last week.

According to the documents cited in the report, the payment was made through a banking instrument issued by the Bank of Punjab and credited to a Punjab government account maintained with the National Bank of Pakistan’s Valencia branch in Lahore. The reported amount represents the final aircraft-related cost claimed by the provincial government after the trip.

The amount had itself become a subject of discussion in recent days. Earlier reports said the government initially calculated the cost at Rs29.366 million before subsequently revising the figure to Rs28.038 million and then to Rs27.194 million. At the time those reports were published, independent confirmation of the final payment had not been publicly available.

The controversy began after Maryam Nawaz’s use of the provincial aircraft attracted criticism from opposition politicians, who questioned whether public resources had been used for a private family visit. A Punjab Assembly opposition member also submitted an adjournment motion seeking clarification about the aircraft’s use, the authority under which it was deployed and the expenses charged to the public exchequer.

The Punjab government, however, maintained from the outset that the chief minister would personally bear the cost. Information Minister Azma Bokhari publicly rejected allegations that government funds would ultimately be used to finance the aircraft expenses and said Maryam Nawaz had paid the cost herself.

The latest reported payment therefore shifts the focus of the controversy from whether the aircraft expenses would be reimbursed to questions concerning the applicable rules, the calculation of the final amount and the documentation supporting the payment.

The dispute has also highlighted wider questions about the use of government aircraft by public office-holders for private or mixed-purpose travel. Opposition representatives have called for greater disclosure of the expenditure, while government representatives have maintained that the chief minister’s expenses were not ultimately borne by taxpayers.

The reported Rs27.194 million payment, if verified through the relevant government and banking records, would establish that the chief minister reimbursed the provincial government for the aircraft-related expenses associated with the London trip.

The controversy is now likely to centre on the official billing record, the basis on which the final amount was calculated and whether the complete documentation is made available for public scrutiny.