News Desk: Senate Chairman Yousuf Raza Gilani has confirmed that a luxury vehicle worth Rs90 million was purchased for his office using funds from the Senate’s official budget, drawing attention amid ongoing economic pressures in the country.
According to sources, the high-end vehicle has already been delivered to the Senate Secretariat after being procured through budgetary allocations.
Speaking on the matter, Gilani said the purchase was not recent, explaining that the order had been placed in May last year. He added that the funds used for the vehicle came from savings within the Senate’s previous budget.
The Senate chairman also revealed that he had considered returning the vehicle due to the current economic situation. However, he was informed that the car had already been delivered and could not be sent back.
The development has triggered renewed debate over government spending and financial priorities, especially at a time when the country is facing economic challenges and calls for austerity measures are increasing.
Earlier, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb informed lawmakers that the Senate chairman and the speaker of the National Assembly receive a monthly salary of Rs2.15 million.
Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had also criticized the significant increase in salaries of top parliamentary officials, calling it excessive in the prevailing economic conditions.
The purchase of the luxury vehicle is likely to further intensify discussions on transparency, public accountability, and the use of taxpayer funds in Pakistan.
