— Moonis Elahi questions use of Rs11bn aircraft for private family event
— Punjab govt says CM paid all expenses herself
By Zulqernain
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s recent use of the provincial government’s luxury aircraft for a private trip to London has triggered a fresh political controversy, with opposition leaders questioning the use of an official jet for a family event, while the provincial government insists that the chief minister personally paid for the entire trip.
پٹرول اصل قیمت سے 133 روپے مہنگا، ڈیزل اصل قیمت سے 122 روپے مہنگا۔ شوبازشریف کے بے نتیجہ دوروں اور #MadamThiefMinister کی 11 ارب کے لگژری جہاز میں لندن "چھٹیوں" کا خرچہ جو نکالنا تھا۔
— Moonis Elahi (@MoonisElahi) September 10, 2026
Ms Maryam travelled to London last week to attend the graduation ceremony of her daughter, Mahnoor, and returned to Lahore on Wednesday.
Rejecting criticism over her use of the official aircraft, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said the allegation that public money had been spent on the trip was “absolutely incorrect”.
“The Punjab chief minister paid all expenses for her London trip out of her own pocket,” she said in a post on X on Thursday.
The controversy comes amid growing scrutiny of the PML-N government over the use of public resources, particularly following the Punjab government’s acquisition of a high-end aircraft for official purposes.
During her stay in London, Ms Maryam also came under questions over the contentious issue of creating new provinces. She avoided giving a detailed response, saying she would speak on the matter after returning to Pakistan and holding consultations.
بالکل غلط،وزیر اعلی پنجاب نے اپنے لندن وزٹ کے لئے جہاز کے تمام اخراجات اپنے پاس سے ادا کئے ہیں https://t.co/IWf0UYT5PF
— Azma Zahid Bokhari (@AzmaBokhariPMLN) September 10, 2026
Asked about her earlier assertion that Punjab faced a threat of terrorism from its provincial borders, she remarked: “Punjab is facing a threat from incompetence.”
Opposition leaders, meanwhile, used the controversy to step up criticism of the chief minister and the government.
Former federal minister and PTI leader Moonis Elahi, in a post on X, linked the issue to the rising cost of fuel, alleging that motorists were paying far more than the actual price of petrol and diesel.
“The money had to be recovered to pay for Shehbaz Sharif’s fruitless foreign trips and Maryam Nawaz’s ‘holiday’ in London aboard an Rs11 billion luxury jet,” Moonis said.
مریم نواز کا لندن میں بیٹی کی گریجوایشن کا خرچ جو اس “امیر” قوم نے ادا کیا!!! https://t.co/MywuJF5vlF
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) September 9, 2026
Former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry also criticised the trip, saying the expenses of Ms Maryam’s daughter’s graduation in London had been borne by the “rich” nation.
The chief minister had already faced criticism over the Punjab government’s acquisition of the luxury aircraft.
The 2019-manufactured Gulfstream G500, reportedly valued at around $38 million to $42m — equivalent to more than Rs10 billion — has remained under scrutiny since reports emerged about its acquisition by the provincial government.
The opposition has questioned the justification for maintaining such an expensive aircraft at a time when Punjab faces substantial financial, development and public-service challenges.
The latest controversy has thus revived a broader debate over the use of state resources by elected representatives, particularly for travel involving private or family .
