Gilani Confirms Rs90m Car Bought Using Public Funds

A luxury vehicle worth Rs90 million has been purchased for Yousuf Raza Gilani, the chairman of the Senate of Pakistan, using funds from the Senate’s budget.

The vehicle has already been delivered to the Senate Secretariat in Islamabad, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Purchase confirmed by Gilani

When approached about the purchase, Gilani confirmed that the car had been acquired through the Senate’s budget.

He explained that the vehicle had originally been ordered in May last year using savings from the chamber’s previous fiscal budget.

Gilani said he had considered returning the vehicle due to the country’s current economic challenges but was informed that the car had already arrived.

Debate over salaries and privileges

The development comes months after Muhammad Aurangzeb, Pakistan’s finance minister, told lawmakers in Parliament that the Senate chairman and the speaker of the National Assembly receive a monthly salary of Rs2.15 million.

The disclosure had drawn criticism from some lawmakers.

At the time, Khawaja Asif, the defence minister, objected to the salary increases, calling them “economic obscenity” amid Pakistan’s financial challenges.

The purchase of the high-value vehicle is now likely to add to the debate over public spending and official privileges.