Lahore: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has strongly slammed the Punjab government for spending PKR 7.5 billion on 283 luxury vehicles for VIPs, amid rising inflation and struggling public services. PTI Punjab spokesperson Shayan Bashir condemned the expenditure, stating that it is "utterly out of touch with the realities faced by ordinary citizens."

The luxury vehicles purchased by the Punjab government include 10 bulletproof Toyota Land Cruisers and V8s worth PKR 500 million each for senior police officials, 48 protocol cars worth PKR 900 million, and 76 vehicles for ministers and senior bureaucrats worth PKR 710 million. Bashir pointed out that the government will also incur additional expenses for fuel and maintenance.

The ANI reports that the PTI highlighted significant increases in budget allocations for elite offices, including an 870 per cent hike for the Governor House, which now stands at PKR 1.53 billion. The provincial ministers' budgets rose by 204 per cent to PKR 1.07 billion, while the Punjab Chief Minister's Office received a 19 per cent increase, reaching PKR 1.46 billion.

The PTI has demanded a thorough forensic audit by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) into all luxury vehicle purchases and budget increases. The party has also called for the reversal of the decision related to expenditure and criminal action against those responsible for diverting public funds.

The PTI criticized the government for underfunding basic sectors like education, agriculture, and health. The party spokesperson stated that farmers are being abandoned without procurement policies or crop-loss support, and low-income families are facing problems due to government neglect.

The PTI leadership has vowed to fight this "betrayal" in the Assembly, in courts, and across Punjab until the people of the province get the resources they deserve. Bashir emphasized that "this budget is a clear declaration that the Punjab government values its own luxury far above the survival and dignity of its citizens."

With inputs from ANI