LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to reverse the decision of upgrading Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s helipad at his Model Town Lahore residence, after an exclusive report on the matter was published by The Friday Times (TFT).
It is pertinent to mention that earlier, the standing committee of the Punjab cabinet on law and order (SCCLO) has considered and approved nearly Rs 88 million to upgrade the helipad used by prime minister Shehbaz Sharif at his residence in Model Town, Lahore.
But the decision was reversed through a letter written by Ahmad Bilal, section officer at the Home Department, to the Secretary Finance on March 31, 2023.
The letter refers to the Home Department's earlier letter dated March 28, 2023 regarding the upgradation of the helipad at Model Town, wherein it was requested to place funds amounting to Rs 87.344 million into the Assan Assignment account of deputy commissioner (DC) Lahore for upgradation of helipad used by the prime minister at Model Town, Lahore.
“I am further directed to state that the above referred letter dated March 28. 2023 is hereby withdrawn with immediate effect," the letter concludes.
PM Shehbaz was 'not aware' of the expenditure
Sources told TFT that the Prime Minister was not aware of this development and he is implementing the austerity drive in true letter and spirit. “As soon as the TFT story came to his notice, he immediately took action and the letter was withdrawn shortly afterwards,” a senior official said.
Earlier, sources privy to this development had confirmed to TFT on March 30 that, subject to fulfillment of legal and codal formalities, an amount approximating Rs. 88 million would have been transferred from a block allocation of the Home Department for this purpose.
A senior bureaucrat who was part of that meeting told TFT that the SCCLO was briefed on the matter in its 26th meeting held on 13 January 2023, during Parvez Elahi’s tenure. In the meeting, it was decided that the upgradation cost of the helipad was approved and would be financed ‘in principle’ from a block allocation of the Home Department.
“In the January 13 meeting, it was decided that the deputy commissioner Lahore will share the cost estimate, received from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), with the home department,” the senior official said.
Interestingly, this matter had been taken up a day before dissolution of Punjab assembly on 14 January 2023, while Parvez Elahi was chief minister. Elahi used to criticise Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) but did not object to this wasteful spending of taxpayer funds for refurbishing a helipad in Model Town.
Well-informed sources had confirmed to TFT that in the 2nd meeting of the caretaker SCCLO on 22 March 2023, the rough cost estimate of pavement, generators and control room, lighting system and civil works for the helipad – amounting to Rs 87.344 million – was shared by the deputy commissioner. The amount was thereafter approved by the SCCLO.
Upgradation of helipad for night flights
Sources explained that this helipad was being renovated so that the PM’s helicopter could land in Lahore at night time as well. Currently, the PM’s helicopter can only land in the daytime.
It is pertinent to mention that senior bureaucrats in Punjab had earlier demanded that the prime minister take notice of this and, instead of wasting nearly Rs 88 million on the upgradation of this helipad, divert this money to any other public welfare project.
Such unjustified spending also did not make sense at a time when the government was making all out efforts to get financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and also enforcing an austerity drive on all sectors.
Bureaucrats appreciate PM Shehbaz decision
“It is great that the prime minister accepted our request, and the decision has been reversed as soon as it came to his notice. This is a good omen,” a senior official said.
It is pertinent to mention that earlier, the standing committee of the Punjab cabinet on law and order (SCCLO) has considered and approved nearly Rs 88 million to upgrade the helipad used by prime minister Shehbaz Sharif at his residence in Model Town, Lahore.
But the decision was reversed through a letter written by Ahmad Bilal, section officer at the Home Department, to the Secretary Finance on March 31, 2023.
The letter refers to the Home Department's earlier letter dated March 28, 2023 regarding the upgradation of the helipad at Model Town, wherein it was requested to place funds amounting to Rs 87.344 million into the Assan Assignment account of deputy commissioner (DC) Lahore for upgradation of helipad used by the prime minister at Model Town, Lahore.
“I am further directed to state that the above referred letter dated March 28. 2023 is hereby withdrawn with immediate effect," the letter concludes.
PM Shehbaz was 'not aware' of the expenditure
Sources told TFT that the Prime Minister was not aware of this development and he is implementing the austerity drive in true letter and spirit. “As soon as the TFT story came to his notice, he immediately took action and the letter was withdrawn shortly afterwards,” a senior official said.
Earlier, sources privy to this development had confirmed to TFT on March 30 that, subject to fulfillment of legal and codal formalities, an amount approximating Rs. 88 million would have been transferred from a block allocation of the Home Department for this purpose.
A senior bureaucrat who was part of that meeting told TFT that the SCCLO was briefed on the matter in its 26th meeting held on 13 January 2023, during Parvez Elahi’s tenure. In the meeting, it was decided that the upgradation cost of the helipad was approved and would be financed ‘in principle’ from a block allocation of the Home Department.
“In the January 13 meeting, it was decided that the deputy commissioner Lahore will share the cost estimate, received from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), with the home department,” the senior official said.
Interestingly, this matter had been taken up a day before dissolution of Punjab assembly on 14 January 2023, while Parvez Elahi was chief minister. Elahi used to criticise Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) but did not object to this wasteful spending of taxpayer funds for refurbishing a helipad in Model Town.
Well-informed sources had confirmed to TFT that in the 2nd meeting of the caretaker SCCLO on 22 March 2023, the rough cost estimate of pavement, generators and control room, lighting system and civil works for the helipad – amounting to Rs 87.344 million – was shared by the deputy commissioner. The amount was thereafter approved by the SCCLO.
Upgradation of helipad for night flights
Sources explained that this helipad was being renovated so that the PM’s helicopter could land in Lahore at night time as well. Currently, the PM’s helicopter can only land in the daytime.
It is pertinent to mention that senior bureaucrats in Punjab had earlier demanded that the prime minister take notice of this and, instead of wasting nearly Rs 88 million on the upgradation of this helipad, divert this money to any other public welfare project.
Such unjustified spending also did not make sense at a time when the government was making all out efforts to get financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and also enforcing an austerity drive on all sectors.
Bureaucrats appreciate PM Shehbaz decision
“It is great that the prime minister accepted our request, and the decision has been reversed as soon as it came to his notice. This is a good omen,” a senior official said.