Fawad Chaudhry's helicopter statement stirs political storm
Last updated on: 30 August,2018 02:45 pm
Hamza Shehbaz sneered that the helicopter was being used as an amusement ride for visiting in-laws.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry’s statement on the use of helicopter for commute by Prime Minister Imran Khan has created a buzz in the political landscape of Pakistan.
Opposition figure Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, while taking a jibe at information minister Fawad Chaudhry’s statement, said he too wanted to avail the facilty of travelling in helicopter if the cost of running it was Rs55 per kilometer.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Hamza Shehbaz sneered that the helicopter was being used as an amusement ride for visiting in-laws.
Former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain, while taking to reporters ahead of a court hearing, said he had arrived in his car. “It would’ve been better had I used a helicopter. I heard it’s a lot more cheaper,” he said.
However, majority of the parliamentarians were of the view that discussion on the topic was irrevalent and there were other more imporntant issues that needed to be addressed.
PTI leader Ramesh Kumar said it was upto the prime minister to decide on his transport for commute. PML-N leader Mushahidullah Khan said such discussions were irrelevant to the public.
Resolution for resignation
A PML-N MPA on Wednesday submitted a resolution in the Punjab Assembly demanding the resignation of Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry.
In her resolution, Kanwal Pervaiz said the “rampant use” of helicopter by Imran Khan created a wave of suspicion in the country.
She said Fawad Chaudhry had defended the use of helicopters for commute by Prime Minister Imran Khan saying the commute only costs as much as Rs55 per kilometer.
Pervaiz termed the statement “childish, quizzical and far from reality which became a source of embarrassment for Pakistan” and demanded Chaudhry’s resignation.
Social media erupts
Social media users also went into frenzy after the information minister in an interview to a local news channel, made the astounding disclosure about the cost of the travel of helicopter, being used to commute by Prime Minister Imran Khan from PM house to Bani gala which costs between 50 to 55 rupees per kilometer.
This bizarre revelation was made in a heated exchange over Punjab chief minister’s usage of a private jet to travel with his family to Islamabad. The news program host interjected shortly afterwards, casting light on this revelation. Chaudhry went on to elaborate on the right of the PM Imran to utilise all the perks offered to his office. Information minister futher said that this does not affect the public.
According to google maps, PM Imran Khan can reache Bani Gala via three different ways from PM house which distances 13.8 km via Jinnah Road in approx. 26 minutes, 16.4 km via 3rd Ave and Murree Rd/N-75 in approx. 36 mins and 17.5 km via Murree Rd/N-75 in almost 30 mins. by road.
However, via helicopter these distances ranges from 8 to 10 nautical miles.
The federal government owns seven helicopters out of which 02 helicopters remain in the use of Prime Minister of Pakistan.
According to a report by BBC, the helicopter which is being used by the PM Imran Khan is called AW139.
The Agusta Westland AW139 is a 15-seat medium-sized twin-engined helicopter developed and produced principally by AgustaWestland.This helicopter per nautical mile cost approx. PKR 1600. As per this, cost of each visit ranges from PKR 12800 to 16000.
The same distance with fuel costs PKR 35-40km/hr via road would range from Rs350 to 750 from PM house to Banigala.