Shaukat's 50 foreign trips cost national exchequer Rs one billion, National Assembly told

Fifty foreign trips with huge entourages made by former prime minister Shaukat Aziz during 2004 to 2007 cost the national exchequer Rs 1 billion. According to information laid before the National Assembly, the former Prime Minister had made seven official visits to different countries in 2004 with 358 members, costing Rs 92.02 million. During 2005, there were 15 foreign trips along-with 752 members entourage costing Rs 396.52 million.
In 2006, the former premier made 16 foreign trips with 561 people by spending Rs 402.02 million and nine trips were made during 2007 in the last year of his government with 513 members entourage, costing Rs 121.11 million. Detainees: the government on Monday informed the National Assembly that six Pakistanis are presently detained at the Guantanamo Bay.
In a written response to a question of PML-N lawmaker Engineer Khuram Dastagir Khan, the foreign office told the House that six Pakistanis are presently languishing at Guantanamo Bay. Those who were detained included Hafez Qari Mohammed Saad Iqbal Madni since July 2002, Saifullah A Paracha since September 2004, Abdual Rabbani since September 2004, Mohammad Ahmad Ghulam Rabbani since September 2004, Majid Khan and Ammar Al Baluchi since September 2006 respectively. The foreign office further said that efforts are underway at political and diplomatic levels for their early repatriation and ensuring necessary facilities to them.