- Nawaz Sharif during his tenure made 24 visits to London and 17 to Saudi Arabia, spent 262 days abroad and spent Rs1.84 billion
- Asif Ali Zardari during his presidency made 134 foreign visits, spent 257 days abroad and spent Rs1.42 billion
- Cabinet to investigate why Khawaja Asif was employed with a foreign firm for Rs 1 mln when he was holding the portfolio of Defence Minister.
ISLAMABAD, July 9: Prime Minister Imran Khan has once again expressed his commitment to hold all those accountable who looted public money in previous regimes.
As per details, the meeting of Federal Cabinet under PM’s chair took notice of the Iqama and employment of former minister Khawaja Asif in Dubai. The cabinet decided to investigate the matter why Khawaja Asif was working for a foreign firm for Rs 1 million when he was holding the portfolio of defense minister.
Cabinet briefing revealed that the former rulers made luxury foreign tours on public money. PM questioned during the meeting what benefit the nation got from these tours.
PM once again vowed accountability for money spent in previous regimes.
Later, Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood on Tuesday said that former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif during his tenure remained out of country for 262 days and spent Rs1.84 billion on his foreign visits.
Addressing a press conference on decisions taken in cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday, he said that Nawaz Sharif visited London 24 times and spent Rs223.9 million on these trips, adding that the former PM visited Saudi Arabia 17 times costing Rs120 million to the treasury.
Shafqat Mehmood while giving details of the visits said former president and Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari during his presidency made 134 foreign visits and spent 257 days abroad and took 3,500 people along with him on these trips. “The visits cost Rs1.42 billion to the national exchequer at a time when the country was under heavy burden of debts,” he said. – Agencies
