While talking to journalists, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said that before Khan came to power, every politician thought that “corruption was their right”. However, PM Khan had ended tolerance for corruption after he assumed office, Chaudhry claimed.
When people do not have money to buy medicines then how can a prime minister live lavishly?” said Fawad Chaudhry.
“They [the previous government] had ordered cars worth Rs980 million for one SAARC conference,” Chaudhry said, adding that the maintenance expenditure of the cars amounted to Rs350m.
He said that previous governments had left the country up to its eyeballs in debt by spending huge amounts of money on extravagance. The new premier was trying to repay this debt.
He further said that the budget allocated to state institutions like Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Pakistan State Television (PTV) and Radio Pakistan, among others, exceeded the returns, thus increasing state expenditure.
“The state is giving Rs3 billion to PTV and it earns only Rs250m,” Chaudhry revealed. “The expenses of PIA are Rs45bn while Radio Pakistan is given Rs5,650m by the state.” He hailed PM Khan as a “symbol of change” and a “representative of the middle class”.
Fawad Chaudhry said that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf led government brought down the expenses of the Prime Minister House from around Rs1 billion to mere lakhs (under one million rupees).
The PTI leader said that auctioning the PM House buffaloes was a decision to make sure the message is conveyed to the public regarding austerity measures of the government.
Earlier on Septerber 29, Information Minister Chaudhary Fawad had expressed hope that PTI candidates would win with the overwhelming majority in by-elections.
Addressing media in Bani Gala in Islamabad, he said the government did not believe in interventions in elections and that is why no administrative changes have been made in the constituencies where by-elections are being held.
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