LAHORE – Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has defended the provincial government’s use of its luxury aircraft, saying the plane belongs to Punjab and is not her personal property. She also made it clear that she would not take the aircraft with her to Raiwind after leaving office.

Speaking to participants of the Senior Officers Leadership Course in Lahore, Maryam expressed frustration over the repeated focus on the aircraft. She said discussions about her government’s development work often end up returning to the issue of the plane, despite several initiatives being launched across the province.

During her address, she referred to projects including the Ramadan package, road construction, improvements to sewerage systems and the air ambulance service. She said her responsibilities as chief minister also require frequent travel, including visits abroad for official engagements and awards, and questioned how such travel could be managed without an aircraft.

Maryam also compared Punjab’s aircraft with helicopters purchased by other provincial governments. She claimed that Punjab’s aircraft cost around Rs10 billion to Rs11 billion, while helicopters acquired by other provinces cost around Rs16 billion. The Punjab government had acquired a Gulfstream G500, whose reported value has remained a subject of public discussion.

The aircraft came under renewed scrutiny after Maryam Nawaz used it during a private visit to London to attend her daughter Mahnoor Safdar’s graduation ceremony. The trip sparked questions about who should bear the cost of using a provincial government aircraft for a private engagement.

Following the controversy, Rs27.194 million was deposited into the Punjab government treasury to cover expenses associated with the aircraft’s use during the London trip. The amount was paid through a Bank of Punjab cheque and deposited at the National Bank of Pakistan’s Valencia branch in Lahore.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari had earlier said that Maryam Nawaz would personally bear the travel expenses. The subsequent payment provided a specific figure for the costs associated with the aircraft’s use. The matter also drew criticism from political opponents, while a Punjab Assembly motion sought details about the aircraft and the expenses incurred.

Maryam has previously defended her use of the aircraft for official travel, arguing that air travel saves time and allows her to manage her responsibilities more efficiently. In her latest remarks, she again maintained that the aircraft is a provincial government asset rather than her personal property.

The chief minister also used the address to discuss security challenges in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. She said Pakistan’s armed forces deal with external security threats, while weaknesses in internal governance can also create security risks.

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The aircraft debate continues to focus on its purchase cost, purpose and use for both official and private travel. Maryam, however, reiterated that the plane belongs to the Punjab government and would not become her personal property after she leaves office.