Maryam Nawaz Pays Rs27.19m for Official Plane Used on London Trip

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has paid Rs27,194,004 to the provincial government for the use of an official aircraft during her recent private visit to London, according to reports on Thursday. The payment follows public and political scrutiny over the use of the government plane for a journey undertaken for personal purposes.

The chief minister travelled to London to attend her daughter's graduation ceremony. Questions were subsequently raised over whether public funds had been used to cover the cost of the aircraft and whether the expense would ultimately be borne by the provincial government or reimbursed by the chief minister personally.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari had earlier said that Maryam Nawaz would personally pay the expenses associated with the aircraft. The latest development indicates that Rs27.19 million has now been deposited into the provincial treasury against the cost of the flight.

PML-N lawmaker Hina Parvez Butt also stated on social media that the chief minister had paid all expenses connected with the use of the government aircraft. She said the cheque submitted for the amount was expected to be cashed the following day, providing further confirmation that reimbursement had been initiated.

The controversy had also reached the Punjab Assembly, where an adjournment motion sought details of the expenditure incurred during the London trip. The matter drew attention to rules governing the use of official transport and state resources by elected officeholders when travel includes a private purpose.

The payment addresses the immediate question of who would bear the cost of the aircraft, although scrutiny may continue over the procedures followed when government planes are used for non-official travel. Such cases can prompt demands for clearer disclosure of expenses, authorisation procedures and reimbursement arrangements involving public assets.

For the Punjab government, the issue has significance beyond the amount involved because questions over official expenditure can become politically sensitive when they concern senior elected officials. Reimbursement of the aircraft cost may reduce financial concerns surrounding the trip, but lawmakers and members of the public may still seek documentary details about how the amount was calculated and when the payment is formally credited to the treasury.

The next expected step is completion of the banking process associated with the submitted payment and any further clarification sought through the Punjab Assembly or other official channels. No additional financial liability related to the aircraft journey had been publicly detailed at the time of the latest reports.