PTI Slams Punjab’s Rs730m Bulletproof Vehicle Purchase

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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf decries Punjab’s Rs730 million allocation for bulletproof vehicles as lavish spending amid widespread economic hardship.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has strongly condemned the Punjab government’s decision to allocate Rs730 million for purchasing bulletproof vehicles, labeling it a stark example of misplaced priorities during a time of severe economic strain for millions of Punjab residents. Shayan Bashir, head of PTI Punjab’s Media Cell, described the expenditure as a “blatant display of anti-people governance,” highlighting the government’s focus on elite comforts while ordinary citizens face soaring inflation and limited access to essentials, according to The Express Tribune.

The funds, intended for high-end vehicles, come as Punjab grapples with significant socio-economic challenges. Bashir noted that over 35 million people in the province live below the poverty line, with a 15% tax on medicines exacerbating healthcare access issues. He pointed to a maternal mortality rate of 165 deaths per 100,000 births and a 25% surge in fertilizer prices, which has hit farmers hard, alongside rising water bills and poor wheat returns, as reported by The Express Tribune. Unemployment, now exceeding 7.5%, further compounds the struggles of low-income families, many of whom lack clean drinking water and adequate food supplies, Bashir added.

This is not the first instance of such criticism. In June 2025, PTI slammed the Punjab government for approving Rs7.5 billion for 283 luxury vehicles, including 10 bulletproof Toyota Land Cruisers and V8s costing Rs500 million each for senior police officials, per Dawn. The party also highlighted budget hikes for elite offices, such as an 870% increase for the Governor House to Rs1.53 billion and a 47% rise for the Punjab Assembly to Rs7.38 billion, signaling a pattern of extravagant spending, according to The Tribune.

Bashir accused Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s administration of masking systemic corruption with populist rhetoric, calling the vehicle purchase “undeniable evidence of administrative dishonesty.” PTI has vowed to pursue legal and public protests to challenge what it terms “exploitative governance” and demanded a forensic audit by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) into all luxury vehicle purchases, per The Express Tribune. As economic woes persist, the controversy underscores growing public frustration with the government’s fiscal priorities.