Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer has accorded approval to the purchase of 30 brand new vehicles for Rs 43 million, for provincial cabinet members, it is learnt. The Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD) requested the Punjab finance department to release funds, as supplementary grant, for purchase of new luxurious vehicles, sources said.
S&GAD submitted a summary to the Governor for approval of funds for the purchase of new Toyota GLI 1600 cars for the expected provincial ministers of the province. The Governor approved the summary without any hesitation and directed the finance department to release the funds without any delay, as supplementary grant, and put it at the disposal of S&GAD.
According to rules and regulation of the finance e department, the finance secretary can release only Rs 3 million. Above this limit, chief minister of the province is competent authority to give approval. Because of Governor rule in the province, Salmaan Taseer being the chief executive has the authority for release of funds, sources said.
They said the provincial government under Shahbaz Sharif had provided old vehicles, already used by members of Pervaiz Elahi cabinet for official use to provincial ministers. Provision of old vehicles was the part of austerity drive launched by the former provincial government. Despite desires of various provincial ministers, the S&GAD provided old vehicles to them on strict orders of the former chief minister Shahbaz Sharif. In former government, there were 16 provincial minister from PML-N and PPP.
In the likely new government, the number of provincial ministers would be 30 and all of them would be provided new vehicle as staff car to discharge official obligations. The old vehicles not surrendered yet by most of the outgoing cabinet members would be provided to parliamentary secretaries, if nominated by the new government, sources added.