Ruling elite cannot afford ostentatious lifestyle: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the ruling elite could not afford the ostentatious life style which it was maintaining in the past.

In a letter to governors and chief ministers of the provinces, the PM said public buildings presently under use as Governor’s House, chief ministers houses, etc could be put to a more productive use by allowing access of the public to these buildings.

In order to oversee implementation of the decisions taken by the federal government regarding adaptive re-use of public buildings with heritage value, the prime minister has written letters to all governors, chief ministers and federal ministers under his own signatures.

The prime minister has stated in these letters that Pakistan was facing a huge economic crisis. Pakistan’s total debt has soared to Rs 30 trillion and the country was paying Rs 6 billion as daily interest payment.

In this scenario, he said the ruling elite could not afford the ostentatious life style which it was maintaining in the past. He has shown the way by choosing to live in a modest house voluntarily, instead of residing in the palatial 1100 Kanals Prime Minister’s House.

The Prime Minister has advised all public office holders concerned to take action on future use of these buildings already approved by him on the recommendation of a Committee of experts on priority basis, as he would be monitoring the progress himself through the National History & Literary Heritage Division.

To oversee progress on the decisions, a National Oversight Committee has also been constituted:-

S.No. Name
1. Prime Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan (Chairman)
2. Shafqat Mahmood, Minister for National History & Literary Heritage
3. Muhammad Azam Khan, Secretary to the Prime Minister
4. Engr. Aamir Hasan, Secretary, National History & Literary Heritage Division,
5. Tehmina Janjua, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (For State Guest Houses)
6. Imran Zeb Khan Secretary, Ministry of Housing & Works (For Federal Government Properties)
7. Arshad Mirza, Secretary, Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training (For Institution of Higher Learning, PM House)
8. Dr. Tariq Banuri Chairman, Higher Education Commission (For Institution of Higher Learning, PM House)
9. All Chief Secretaries (For Respective Provincial Government Properties)