Helicopter travel costs Rs 20,000 per minute, says ex-PM Abbasi

ISLAMABAD: Chipping in with the ongoing debate over ‘cheap’ cost of helicopter trip, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, who himself owns an airline, stated that per minute of a helicopter commute is around Rs 20,000.

During a media talk, the ex-PM expressed surprise on statement of Fawad Chaudhary who said per kilometer cost of helicopter commute is Rs 55. “I must say every Pakistani is now waiting for the helicopter that costs Rs 55 per km,” he taunted.

Read: Naeem-ul-Haq defends PM Imran’s use of helicopter

On August 27, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry had said that Prime Minister Imran Khan’s commute via his helicopter costs between Rs 50 and Rs 55 per kilometer.

In an interview to a TV channel, the minister said PM Khan’s commute via helicopter doesn’t cost much and it’s around Rs 55 per km. He said helicopter isn’t much expensive if somebody owns it personally and not hired on rent.

He said it’s preferable to travel via helicopter instead of cavalcade on road that causes hardship to people. He underlined that four helicopters are already at the PM House from previous regimes, which is prerogative of any prime minister.

The statement by information minister triggered debate on the mainstream as well as the social media as how could helicopter travel cost be so cheap.

Yesterday, PTI leader Naeem-ul-Haq  responded to  criticism over use of a helicopter by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The special assistant to the prime minister issued a statement that Imran Khan only flew by helicopter twice, adding that an unnecessary debate is being created on the media.

He said that the prime minister does not want traffic to be stopped on the roads when he travels and that people should not be troubled.