Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan publicly defended the Punjab government’s controversial purchase of a new business jet, rejecting accusations that the aircraft is a personal asset of the chief minister and dismissing criticism as political “propaganda.” Sanaullah made the remarks during a Senate session on Monday, arguing that the swap was a legitimate government acquisition rather than a personal luxury.
Rana Sanaullah said the jet was intended to replace an older aircraft that had been in service for 25–30 years and asserted that the new plane could serve the province for another 30–40 years, making it a long‑term asset for the Punjab government rather than a vehicle for individual use. The adviser stressed that Punjab’s sizeable economy and revenues justify such an expenditure, countering claims that it was an extravagant or unnecessary purchase.
The purchase, reportedly worth between $38 million and $42 million (around Rs 11 billion), has ignited political criticism, especially from the Pakistan Tehreek‑e‑Insaf (PTI), which alleges that the jet is primarily for the personal use of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. Opposition voices have seized on the procurement to question priorities, particularly as economic pressures persist across the country.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has sought to broaden the context, stating that the government plans to establish an “Air Punjab” fleet comprising various aircraft for official and administrative travel. She said some aircraft in the fleet will be purchased outright while others may be leased, and that the Gulfstream business jet is part of that larger initiative rather than a standalone asset for VIP transport.
Critics of the acquisition have questioned the ethics of such spending ahead of fiscal challenges and competing budgetary needs. Muzzammil Aslam, finance adviser to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, has pointed to the lack of compensation for flood victims and contrasting budget discipline in KP to highlight competing provincial priorities, saying it raises questions about the timing and necessity of Punjab’s jet purchase.
As the debate intensifies, federal and provincial leaders have defended the move as a matter of administrative efficiency and long‑term asset management, framing the opposition narrative as driven by political motivations rather than substantive policy concerns.