‘Paid Rs27.5m myself’: Maryam defends use of govt plane for London trip

• Maryam says aircraft belongs to Punjab government.
• CM says facility available to all Provincial chief executives.
• She dismisses criticism over daughter’s graduation trip.
  

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has defended her use of a government aircraft, saying she personally paid nearly Rs2.75 crore for a flight taken to attend her daughter’s graduation ceremony.

Responding to criticism over the use of the aircraft, Maryam said it was owned by the Punjab government and was not her personal property.

Addressing an inaugural ceremony of electric bus service in Multan, she said: “There is a huge fuss about a Rs9 billion aeroplane. It is not mine, it belongs to the Chief Minister of Punjab.”

 Maryam said she frequently travelled to different cities for official engagements and questioned how she was expected to travel between them.

“Today I have come to Multan, tomorrow I will go to Sargodha, the day after tomorrow I will go to Pindi, then I will go to Dera Ghazi Khan, Bhakkar, and Layyah — so what am I supposed to travel on?” she said.

She added that the aircraft facility was available to all four chief ministers, saying she previously travelled on commercial flights or hired aircraft when needed.

Addressing criticism over using the government aircraft for her daughter’s graduation, Maryam said she had covered the cost herself.

“I paid nearly 2.75 crore rupees from my own pocket — from my own pocket!” she said.

Maryam also argued that she remained on official duty even when travelling for what might appear to be a personal visit, saying government responsibilities could require her attention while travelling.

The CM said she was accountable to the public and not to social media personalities or journalists demanding an explanation.

“Today, standing in the court of the public, I am offering this clarification because, after Almighty Allah, I am accountable solely and exclusively to you — not to any vlogger, not to any media person, and not to any YouTuber,” she said.

Maryam added that a copy of the receipt for the payment would be made available.

The CM said, “I am being criticised because I deliver [results].” Responding to her critics, the chief minister said they were paid in dollars to target her. Maryam said she would not respond to the criticism, adding: “Keep criticising—it makes no difference to me.”