PM Shehbaz Sharif cuts SCO summit bulletproof car plan, reduces fleet by 20 vehicles

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reportedly directed officials to scale back a proposed purchase of bulletproof vehicles for the 2027 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Islamabad reducing the planned fleet from 65 vehicles to 45.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reportedly directed officials to scale back a proposed purchase of bulletproof vehicles for the 2027 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Islamabad reducing the planned fleet from 65 vehicles to 45.

According to official sources, the original proposal involved importing 65 high-security vehicles at an estimated cost of Rs12.6 billion for the transportation and security of visiting heads of state and other foreign dignitaries.

Following a review of the proposal the prime minister directed officials to reduce the number of vehicles by 20. Sources said the revised plan is expected to cost approximately Rs9.6 billion representing a reported reduction of Rs3 billion from the original estimate.

Revised vehicle plan

Under the revised proposal, officials are planning to arrange:

• 30 Mercedes-Benz Maybach S680 Guard vehicles

• 15 BMW 760i xDrive vehicles

• Total vehicles: 45

• Estimated cost: Rs9.6 billion

Officials said the vehicles are intended to provide secure transportation for foreign leaders and other high-level delegates attending the SCO Summit.

A senior government official told Minute Mirror that the prime minister has instructed authorities to keep preparations within a strict austerity framework and to acquire only what is considered necessary for the summit.

Security arrangements for foreign leaders

Pakistan is scheduled to host the SCO Summit in Islamabad in 2027. Security and transportation arrangements for visiting heads of state are expected to form a major part of the preparations.

Government officials maintain that high-security vehicles are required because of the protocol and security arrangements associated with visits by foreign leaders.

At the same time sources said authorities are examining how the vehicles could be used for official state duties after the summit. Such a move could allow the government to retain their utility beyond the event.

The reported reduction in the proposed fleet comes as the government continues to emphasise expenditure control and austerity in public-sector spending.

The revised proposal will determine the scale of the vehicle procurement once the relevant government approvals and procurement procedures are completed.