Azma Bukhari admits family members accompanied CM Maryam on Japan trip but on ‘personal expense’

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s extended visit to Japan has drawn sharp criticism amid concerns over the heavy expenses incurred on the foreign tour, with reports suggesting that several family members and acquaintances also joined the delegation.

Opposition party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) strongly condemned the trip, particularly the use of a chartered plane and the alleged inclusion of non-official individuals.

PTI leader Ayesha Bhutta shared an unofficial list on social media, claiming it included Maryam Nawaz’s elder daughter, her husband and children, her younger daughter along with a friend, as well as the sons of Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, members of the media team, domestic staff, and others, bringing the total to around 30 people.

According to reports, the Punjab government had approved Rs160 million for visits to Japan, covering expenses such as luxury hotels, cars, and diplomatic gifts.

CM Maryam had also made a stopover in Thailand before proceeding to Japan. In addition, an official advertisement campaign was launched to highlight the tour, which critics described as another attempt at self-promotion and misuse of public funds.

مال مفت دل بے رحم
مریم نواز کے عوام ٹیکس کے پیسوں سے 16 کروڑ روپے کے غیر ملکی دورہ میں بیٹیاں، داماد، نواسہ نواسی، بیٹی کی سہیلیاں بلکہ یہاں تک کہ ذاتی گھر ملازمین کے ملازمین کو بھی ساتھ لے جایا گیا ہے۔
اس کے علاوہ مریم اورنگزیب کے دو بیٹے، چیف سکریٹری کا بیٹا اور میڈیا کے تین… pic.twitter.com/AhTggwOl4g

— صحرانورد (@Aadiiroy2) August 25, 2025

Reacting to the controversy, Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari dismissed the criticism as an “attack on national interest,” calling it “treacherous” to criticise Maryam Nawaz, who she noted is the first woman chief minister in Pakistan’s history to undertake such a visit.

She argued that the trip aimed to strengthen Pakistan-Japan relations and adopt aspects of Japan’s development model to create opportunities for youth and prosperity in Punjab.

Bukhari rejected claims that the government bore expenses for non-official travelers, clarifying that the list circulating online was “misleading.” However, she conceded that some family members and friends had indeed accompanied the delegation, but stressed that “they covered their expenses from their own pockets.”

وزیر اطلاعات پنجاب عظمٰی زاہد بخاری نے جاپان کا دورہ کرنے والے وفد کے ارکان سے متعلق سوشل میڈیا پر گردش کرنے والی لسٹ کو جھوٹ کا پلندہ قرار دے دیا pic.twitter.com/GmZHqBcDtb

— Chief Minister Office Punjab (@cmopunjabpk) August 25, 2025