LAHORE: The Punjab government has plans to procure some 108 new luxury vehicles for cabinet members and bureaucrats at a cost of Rs1.14 billion during the current financial year – as per decisions of the cabinet committee and recommendations by the S&GAD.

The cabinet committee and the S&GAD transport wing had recommended for the procurement of vehicles at different occasions during the past three months.

The Punjab government is, however, yet to give its final nod for the purchase of the vehicles.

When contacted, a senior officer in the S&GAD denied that the government was planning to purchase new luxury vehicles for the ministers and bureaucrats and asserted: “There is nothing in pipeline and there is no new proposal”.

An official denies any move to purchase vehicles for ministers, bureaucrats; another says final nod being awaited

Some well-placed sources in the S&GAD, however, contested that only a final nod by the government was awaited on recommendations submitted time to time during the past three months.

The sources said the S&GAD had submitted its recommendations for the purchase of 28 new vehicles for the Punjab cabinet members at a cost of Rs300 million.

As per cabinet committee meeting minutes, the government plans to purchase a Land Cruiser, two Haval 1.5, five Grande Altis, 10 Toyota Altis and 10 Toyota Yaris.

The Punjab government, it maybe mentioned, has already allowed to procure two bullet-proof 4x4 vehicles for two provincial ministers at a cost of Rs40 million.

The government has also approved recommendations for the procurement of 25 luxury vehicles for the security of VIPs at a cost of Rs270 million.

Sources in the S&GAD claimed that the government had decided to purchase over 40 vehicles for the Chief Minister’s Inspection Team at an estimated cost of Rs530m. The proposed vehicles for the CMIT include 30 double cabin, three Toyota Altis and 11 Toyota Yaris, a Suzuki Cultus and a few motorbikes.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2026