If petrol tax cuts need IMF nod, who approved Punjab’s Rs11.7bn jet, asks Miftah

Karachi: Former federal finance minister and Awaam Pakistan leader Miftah Ismail has questioned the government’s spending priorities, asking why IMF approval was considered necessary to reduce taxes on petrol but apparently posed no obstacle to Punjab’s reported acquisition of an aircraft costing up to Rs11.7 billion. He made the remarks while addressing a Jamaat-i-Islami sit-in in Karachi amid public concern over fuel costs and economic pressures. Ismail had previously claimed that Punjab acquired a Gulfstream G500 for between $38 million and $42 million, equivalent to approximately Rs10.64 billion to Rs11.76 billion. (Miftah Ismail’s statement) However, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari disputed the VIP-use allegation, saying the aircraft was intended to form part of the proposed Air Punjab fleet rather than serve as a dedicated personal jet.