THIS is apropos of the advertisement ‘Tender for purchase of executive aircraft’ (Feb 12) by the secretary (SAAC), government of Sindh, saying that the government of Sindh intends to purchase an executive jet having a minimum seating capacity of eight to 12 passengers with all facilities for which bids have been invited.

It would be interesting to know as to what is the need of such an aircraft. It must be for the travelling needs of ministers and government officials. If so, can’t they use normal travelling facilities such as trains, government automobiles and local airlines?

Buying an executive jet aircraft is pure luxury. Can a poor and underdeveloped country afford such a luxury? In Pakistan, as is generally known, 70 per cent of the population earn less than $2 a day. There is extreme poverty in rural Sindh and there is calamity of floods being faced by people. If the government could afford to buy such an aircraft for the convenience of a few persons, why cannot it spend this money on alleviating the sufferings of millions of people in Sindh?

I request the Sindh government to drop the idea of buying the aircraft and use the money allocated for the betterment of the majority poor and destitute population.

A. RAHIMKarachi