SC stays Sindh govt's purchase of new helicopter

E-Paper | May 10, 2026

KARACHI: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Friday restrained the Sindh government from purchasing a new helicopter worth 1.6 billion rupees, DawnNews reported.

The provincial cabinet had on December 12 decided to purchase a $15.95 million helicopter from an Italian company for the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to carry out relief work.

Following the decision, a petition was filed on Friday in the Supreme Court's Karachi registry by Mahmood Akhtar Naqvi saying the Sindh government already owned two helicopters and there was no rationale under which another one should be purchased.

The plea added children were dying in Thar, whereas the government was wasting away money on buying helicopters it did not appear to be in need of when it comes to dispensing its duties.

The court issued the stay order and also sought details of the purchase deal relating to the Rs 1.6 billion helicopter.

The government of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah has been under continual criticism over conditions in the drought-hit district of Thar which has seen the deaths of 311 children under five years of age between December 2013 and November this year.

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

Nuclear disaster can unfold any moment, experts fear

‘Marka-i-Haq’ gatherings in Karachi celebrate nation’s triumph against Indian aggression

Gas supply suspended in parts of Karachi after pipeline damaged during Red Line construction

haris

Dec 19, 2014 02:27pm

innki aayaashiaan khatam nahi hoteen...

Recommend 0

Umer Ali

Dec 19, 2014 02:37pm

As if they do care about Disaster management. This helocopter will be used to have the best kind of "Afeem"

Recommend 0

Parwaiz Abidi

Dec 19, 2014 02:50pm

Non of the monies belong to the Honorable Syed Qiam Ali Shah. So he does not care if he buys one or ten helicopters.

Recommend 0

Lala

Dec 19, 2014 02:57pm

To carry out "Relief work"

Recommend 0

Hassan

Dec 19, 2014 03:04pm

Sindh Government, so we are talking about PPP. Good to know how each party and body of goverment acts after the Peshawar crisis.

Recommend 0

Fawad

Dec 19, 2014 03:09pm

This is a luxury helicopter mostly used by the oil rich States like UAE. Agusta 139 is rarely used for rescue operations and that too by the richest countries of the world. I am reasonably certain that it will be used for bilawal and zardari.

Recommend 0

A. Khan

Dec 19, 2014 03:20pm

Helicopter for disaster relief ? What a laugh. Its meant to take Shah and his PPP companions around for campaign work.

Recommend 0

ALI D

Dec 19, 2014 03:37pm

Please for gods sake CM Saab, dont waste our hard earned money. You should be shameful over your spendings

Recommend 0

Umer Ali

Dec 19, 2014 03:49pm

We have two type of terrorist. The "Imposed Terrorist" and the "Elected Terrorist". I think the later ones are more brutal and cunning. We must get rid of both of them.

Recommend 0

Arslan

Dec 19, 2014 04:12pm

Great decision. I hope to see the Courts take a more insistent line on good governance.

Recommend 0

Sohail Khan

Dec 19, 2014 04:26pm

Children are dying of hunger and Mr. Qaim Ali Shah is planning to purchase 1.6 billions worth helicopter. This says all for the policies of PPP regarding Sindh in last 3 decades.

Recommend 0

bhokaInsan

Dec 19, 2014 04:30pm

they deserve helipcopter because they got vote from people of Sindh, same way people of sindh deserve starvation and thrust because they chose these people to govern them. this is all about choice, i bat you if they purchase 10 helicopter but still sindhi people chose them.

Recommend 0

Usman Ahmed

Dec 19, 2014 04:43pm

@bhokaInsan No child deserves to die of hunger. If PML-N could engage in such blatant corruption in the last elections in Punjab...God knows what PPP would be doing in the lawless, rural inlands of Sindh.

Recommend 0

Jigz Khan

Dec 19, 2014 05:19pm

Three children are dying every day in Tharparkar. PPPP Govt. don't care of this core issue. they never care about the lives of innocents instead they are wasting such a huuuuuggggggeee amount of People's money for their own comfort. PDMA?????? WHAT A JOKE !!!!!!! when it comes to fight against disasterslike storm, Mr. So called Speaker Sindh Assembly Agha Siraj Durrani says ''Sea view k pas apko pta hay na k Abdullah Shah Ghazi Sb Ka Mazaar hay Karachi ko Kuch nhi Huga or Jisey phir bhi Darr Hay wo Karachi Sey Chala Jaey'' Shame on PPPP Govt. and your self centered and selfish Ministers

Recommend 0

Pakistani

Dec 19, 2014 05:33pm

Excellent call by the Honourable SHC.

Recommend 0

Ezio Auditore

Dec 19, 2014 05:58pm

Ppp's vision is consistent atleast. They will do corruption no matter how much abuse they get from the ppl in return.. Thumbs up.. (:

Recommend 0

bingo

Dec 19, 2014 06:00pm

CM needs new wheel chair not a helicopter. Don't they feel any shame !!!

Recommend 0

Mohammed Shahid

Dec 19, 2014 06:59pm

200 + children has died of hunger and they need new helicopter, how do you see it?

Recommend 0

Khalid

Dec 19, 2014 08:15pm

You don't need to spend Millions of Dollars for relief management. What you need is the WILL and committment. PPP and its leadership at its worst.

Recommend 0

faz

Dec 19, 2014 08:58pm

This Qaim Ali shah and his company is nothing but bunch of jokers!...I mean seriously ....people are dying and they want to spend 1.6 billion...For their lavish travel???

Recommend 0

zafar

Dec 19, 2014 10:13pm

it better not by used to transport worthless high ranking official!

Recommend 0

Ali

Dec 20, 2014 12:24am

A person who never had the privelege of riding a bicycle is planning to buy a new helicopter for himself. Qaim Ali Shah you never fail to disappoint us.

Recommend 0

Shahid

Dec 20, 2014 01:37am

How can Pakistan fight any evils when a big part of evil is our rulers. Until justice pervails in this society and the corrupt rulers are replaced with some acceptable faces nothing will change.

Recommend 0

Amir

Dec 20, 2014 02:28am

Why don,t they spend the money on Karachis poor transport system for the masses.

Recommend 0

Saleem

Dec 20, 2014 07:00am

@Fawad the moment I read the news I said to myself that it will either be used by Zardari or his children.

Recommend 0

Shahid Kinnare

Dec 20, 2014 07:34am

what the court has to do with executive work and decision.

Recommend 0

Pakistani

Dec 21, 2014 07:38am

@Umer Ali It's funny how everyone just looks at one big number and instantly starts scrutinizing with no idea of the other person's intentions. Look at PDMA Punjab, they seem to be spending a lot on their projects. I am pretty sure that costs a lot of "hard earned" money. Take a look at Lahore, it's pretty evident that Nawaz Sharif has spent a big sum of money solely on it's development, has he done that for any other city? No, he hasn't. But I am not going to do the same thing as you and paint everyone with the same brush. There are still people with good intentions (keeping aside Qaim Ali Shah). So please stop your bigotry and think critically for a second.

Recommend 0

Ahmed

Dec 22, 2014 09:34am

Seems like most of the people here are quick to make baseless assumptions without any background information. If PDMA Punjab was buying this helicopter everyone would be praising their commitment and their vision. If any other Provence tries to be progressive they get all irked up about it. By the way how many of you are still concerned about the damages brought to Mohen jo daro by Sindh Festival. The person who filled this petition, Mahmood Akhtar Naqvi, as no other job than blackmailing people who want to do their jobs. Google him please and see how politically motivated he is against certain parties.

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Master Group of Industries: Driving Pakistan's future through carbon negative innovation

By embracing clean energy solutions, the group continues to contribute toward lowering dependence on conventional energy sources and encouraging a more sustainable industrial ecosystem.

Climate uncertainty reshapes life in Pakistan as tree planting efforts shift towards survival

“The real work begins after the applause fades, in the quiet, daily acts of care that no camera records.”

Indus Cloud Limited, Indus DC REIT and UBL form strategic partnership to accelerate Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and cloud adoption

This collaboration marks a significant step toward strengthening the country’s digital backbone and locally hosted cloud services for enterprises and public sector organisations.