FAISALABAD, May 10: Millions of rupees have reportedly been “placed at the disposal of the district government” for hiring vehicles and arranging meals for those who would be taken for a `joyride’ to Islamabad on Friday (today).

Keeping in view the direction of the provincial government, the DCO held meetings with town administrations and gave them certain targets with a warning that failure would invite official wrath.

Who is bearing the expenses was a million dollar question. A district officer requesting anonymity said the money had come from the top. Another official said the ruling party MNAs, MPAs, city district and town nazims would contribute the money.

The regional transport authority and traffic were asked to impound 400 buses. Each MNA would be given 15 buses, MPA 12 and town nazims 10 buses to take their supporters to Islamabad.

The district government which had received more than Rs5 million in the transport head would pay Rs7,500 to each bus hired.

Another official remained tight-lipped to comment on whether the funds had been given by the ruling party or released by the Punjab government. “The funds are at the disposal of the district government,” was his answer.

An official said the attendance of participants would be recorded at the motorway through cameras in an effort to monitor the performance of MPs and nazims.

Lyallpur Town naib nazim Nadeem Sandhu, who would arrange meals for 16,000 people to be taken from Faisalabad, dispelled the impression that national exchequer was being used to make the event a success.

He said all members of assemblies, towns and PML office-bearers had pooled the money from their pockets to promote democracy in the country.

Mr Sandhu would spend Rs2.4 million on two-day meals.