ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan defended the Punjab government’s decision to purchase a new jet. He rejected claims that the aircraft serves the personal or political interests of the chief minister, Maryam Nawaz.
Speaking during a Senate session, Sanaullah said critics had turned the procurement into a propaganda issue. “Punjab is a big province and has substantial resources to acquire such an aircraft,” he stated. He clarified that the jet belongs to the provincial government and not to any political party or to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
The remarks followed political controversy surrounding the reported purchase of a luxury Gulfstream business jet valued between $38 million and $42 million, approximately Rs 11 billion. Opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) alleged that the aircraft would be used exclusively for the chief minister’s personal travel.
Government outlines long-term aviation plan
Sanaullah stressed that the new jet replaces an aging aircraft that has served the province for 25 to 30 years. He added that the newly acquired plane will likely remain operational for another 30 to 40 years, thereby serving as a long-term provincial asset.
Meanwhile, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said that the government intends to establish a broader aviation initiative under the proposed “Air Punjab” project. She explained that authorities plan to build a fleet comprising different types of aircraft, with some purchased outright and others acquired through leasing arrangements.
Therefore, officials maintain that the jet purchase forms part of a comprehensive aviation strategy rather than an individual benefit.
