Azma confirms Rs2.7 crore sought for CM Maryam’s VVIP Mercedes maintenance

Punjab Information Minister Azma Zahid Bokhari confirmed media reports claiming that Rs 2.7 crore has been demanded to maintain the VVIP bullet-proof Mercedes used by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to replace its tires.

Speaking on a private news channel, Bokhari stated that this is a routine maintenance procedure. She added that former chief ministers have also incurred similar expenses, since “the car is a government property.”

"Tires were last changed in October 2022 for Rs23.4 million. The car is government property, and we had to convince Maryam Nawaz to approve maintenance for this specific vehicle because it's crucial for her safety. She works without a salary, government residence, or any other perks associated with the position. This is routine maintenance, and the car was previously used by Usman Buzdar and Pervaiz Elahi,” she said. 

The information minister maintained that the criticism is not justified and “Maryam Nawaz's tireless efforts make it difficult for opponents to find faults in her.”

She explained that the grant has only been requested and has not been approved yet. One of the tires burst while Maryam Nawaz was traveling in the car, after which it was recommended to get it maintained.

When asked if CM Punjab had decided to use a helicopter to travel from her residence in Jati Umra to the CM's office, Azma Bokahri said that her daily commute takes one hour. Due to security concerns, it was recommended that she break her routine and use a helicopter for one day. 

She added that Maryam Nawaz might use helicopter more frequently in the future due to serious security threats to party leadership.

CM Punjab office sent an urgent letter to the Punjab Finance Department for funds to fix the tires and perform other maintenance on their VVIP Mercedes-Benz S-600-L.

The letter mentioned that the repairs will cost around Rs. 27.2 million, as quoted by M/S Shahnawaz (PVT) Ltd Lahore, the sole distributor.

The office emphasised the need for immediate funding through supplementary grants in the current fiscal year to ensure the car's security and proper functioning.