Sindh Government Approves Purchase of 138 Luxury Vehicles Amid Financial Austerity

Despite the Sindh government’s ongoing austerity measures, it has approved the procurement of 138 luxury 4×4 double-cabin vehicles for assistant commissioners across the province, sources disclosed on Wednesday.

The services, general administration, and coordination department reportedly requested the release of approximately Rs2 billion from the finance department to fund these vehicles. The approval for this significant expenditure was granted by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah earlier this week, just before his departure for a week-long visit to the United States.

This decision comes at a time when the provincial government is grappling with financial constraints, having decided to halt any new development projects under the Annual Development Programme for the 2024-25 fiscal year.

A summary approved by the Sindh Chief Minister, sent by the section officer-budget of the services department to the finance department, highlighted that the funds for these vehicles were to be released from the existing budgetary allocation. The summary read, “The Finance Department, Government of Sindh, is therefore, requested to release entire withheld funds amounting to Rs1,991,892,000/= allocated under the head of account SC2114(114)-Board of Revenue-A09501-Purchase of Transport by placing the same at the disposal of Senior Member, Board of Revenue, Sindh, to procure 138 vehicles (4×4 Double Cabin) in respect of Assistant Commissioners through centralised procurement mechanism in one go, during the current financial year, 2024-25, as per rules/policy.”

Chief Minister House spokesperson Rasheed Channa clarified to a private news channel that the funds for these vehicles were already allocated and approved in the provincial budget. He emphasized that the vehicles are being procured after a 12-year gap, as the last purchase for assistant commissioners, who also serve as revenue officers in the districts, was made in 2012.

“It is a necessary expense, as vehicles are required for official duties, particularly in rural areas of the province,” Channa stated.

Meanwhile, sources hinted that even more expensive vehicles might soon be procured for deputy commissioners throughout the province, raising further questions about the government’s commitment to austerity.