Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb issued a fierce defense of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz following intense criticism over the provincial government’s acquisition of a luxury Gulfstream jet. The 19-seater aircraft, valued between $38 million and $42 million (over Rs 10 billion), has sparked a political firestorm. Aurangzeb accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) of orchestrating a “vilification campaign” and character assassination against the CM, urging the national media to reject “toxic mindsets” funded by foreign interests.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah Khan has defended the Punjab government’s purchase of a new jet, saying it is not a personal asset of any political party or of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
“Some people have made the plane an issue only for… pic.twitter.com/pOoE19wOlu
— Pakistan Economic Network (@NetPakistan) February 24, 2026
The Punjab government’s justification for the purchase has shifted since the news broke. Initially, officials claimed the jet was part of a proposed provincial airline project. However, after failing to provide a roadmap for the airline, the administration later stated the purchase was necessary because the previous aircraft was outdated and a “safe new jet” was required for the Chief Minister’s official travel.
Opposition leaders have slammed the move as a display of “elite extravagance” during a period of extreme economic hardship. PTI’s Sheikh Waqas Akram argued that spending billions on a VIP plane is unjustifiable while citizens struggle with inflation. Meanwhile, JI Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman pointed out the irony of the federal government selling the national carrier, PIA, for Rs 10 billion while the Punjab government spent Rs 11 billion on a single private luxury jet.
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