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PM gets two BMWs amid austerity claims

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PM gets two BMWs amid austerity claims
Khawar Ghumman
ISLAMABAD: It seems the much-touted ‘austerity measures’ – a popular buzzword among government functionaries – are only meant for the general public.

Dawn has learnt that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has recently acquired two bullet-proof vehicles for his security, cars that have cost the national exchequer over Rs224 million. According to documents available with Dawn, the cars will be used for the prime minister’s private security detail.

The BMW 760Li High Security sedans cost Rs119.742 million and Rs124.995 million, including heads such as custom duty, sales tax, shipping and miscellaneous charges. However, on the orders of Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is considering the purchase ‘a special case’ and is readily offering tax exemptions.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (b) sub-section (2) section 13 of the Sales Tax Act, 1990, the Federal Board of Revenue is pleased to exempt sales taxes on the two vehicles as a special case,” says an FBR notification issued in response to Dar’s directions.

In his earlier letter to FBR, the finance minister stated that “in view of the austerity measures, it would be desirable that customs and sales tax on these vehicles be exempted which will considerably save the cost”.

Bullet-proof sedans cost Rs224m; Dar approves tax exemptions
According to a government official privy to the acquisition of the vehicles, Mr Dar’s involvement in the case was unusual. Normally, the relevant department writes to FBR regarding exemptions.

In this particular case, a summary was moved by the director general of the Intelligence Bureau and sent to the Prime Minister’s Office, which demanded two high-security vehicles for the PM’s security detail.

The Prime Minister’s Office approved the purchase and the finance minister stepped in to seek tax exemptions from the FBR.

Despite repeated attempts, Information Minister Senator Pervaiz Rashid, who is also the PM’s official spokesperson, couldn’t be reached for comment.

However, the minister’s public reaction to similar procurement orders given by the Pakistan People’s Party’s former PM Raja Pervaiz Ashraf is on the record, where Mr Rashid had criticised the then-government for “lavish purchases during an economic crisis”.

He even had said that the vehicles in the prime minister’s fleet had a long life because of good maintenance. Therefore, there is no need to replace them or add more vehicles to the fleet.

The Cabinet Division’s Central Pool of Car (CPC), which manages the fleet of cars used by the Prime Minister’s Office, refused to disclose any information. An official privy to the action said that this was classified information, but admitted that the CPC possessed enough vehicles to meet VVIP duty requirements.

Under the rules, all former prime ministers are provided government-maintained bullet proof vehicles. former chief justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry had to seek orders from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) to obtain one for security reasons.

He is the only public servant who has been extended this facility.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2014
 
WTH is wrong with this prince? I mean seriously it now sounds like a real empire with princely "extra services" ...What sort of Public servant wants to be above the public whom he serves?
Is he soo fat he is requires 2 to fit him in? So whose doing the cutting ceremony to divide him into equal halves to use 2?
 
Politicians have all the rights to demand as per constitution, and if what they get is outdated they have the right to ask for an upgrade, be it security, or allowances or facilitating their and their fellow politicians’ business.

Those who are crying (common man) should stop moaning and do some real hard work like the politicians for at least 70 years after which they might get enlisted in the list of beneficiaries who are entitled the rights as per the constitution.
 
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Something which is not right, needs not to be defended. However, a single average bullet proof car costs around 40 Million PKR.....

I dont understand the need to buy these cars.. pehlay nahi hain kiya?
Fleet is aged out as the documented life of vehicle ends. The public vehicles are not used as private users use then (well beyond their warranted life) The old cars are auctioned and new are purchased.
 
Politicians have all the rights to demand as per constitution, and if what they get is outdated they have the right to ask for an upgrade, be it security, or allowances or facilitating their and their fellow politicians’ business.

Those who are crying (common man) should stop moaning and do some real hard work like the politicians for at least 70 years after which they might get enlisted in the list of beneficiaries who are entitled the rights as per the constitution.
NS is 70 yrs old?

Then the constitution def does not support democracy it seems to be supporting a Sultanate or a Kingdom!

Because people chose him doesnt mean he gets to boss them or gets privileges above the people who vote for him...that def is not fair nor is it democracy ...
 
If servants are like this then what is the status of the common man in Pakistan? What about the rights of the common man for quality education, electricity, gas, water, security, job opportunities

Screw these things protection of PM is important. We should be ready to die for our beloved leader
 
NS is 70 yrs old?

Then the constitution def does not support democracy it seems to be supporting a Sultanate or a Kingdom!

Because people chose him doesnt mean he gets to boss them or gets privileges above the people who vote for him...that def is not fair nor is it democracy ...

As Pakistanis will be loyal to their political parties till death, current politicians might live for let us say another 30 years, their next generation, immediate family members and friends will still have influence after the death of the seniors but not as much as their seniors. So let give another 30 years. This makes 60 years, then add 10 years for bringing Pakistan back on track so in total around 70 years.

All this can be done in 10 years if Pakistanis want to but they won’t do because as I said Pakistanis are loyal to the political parties and not to the nation.
 
Bhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnn 11 crore ki bc 7 series? That's like a million dollars! More than a million! Wtf. What in god's name is sorcery?

Where are you N league pithus?
 
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