ISLAMABAD – The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led federal government on Monday kick-started the first phase of auctioning of 102 vehicles, including bulletproof cars and ultra-luxury vehicles, as part of PM Imran Khan’s austerity drive.
The auction started at 10:00 AM in the PM House, Islamabad, with 102 vehicles, which included 8 BMWs, 28 Mercedes Benz, 9 Honda cars, 8 Suzuki, 40 Toyota cars, 5 Mitsubishi, 2 Cherokee, 1 Nissan, and 1 Hino Bus.
So far, as many as 62 vehicles, including five bulletproof vehicles, have been sold out for a total of Rs180 million. However, the auction of 40 vehicles has been cancelled due to multiple reasons.
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Only seven out of 27 luxury bulletproof cars were sold out at the auction. On the other hand, two bombproof cars could not interest any of the buyers.
Earlier on Monday, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry told the reporters that the first batch of vehicles was sold “above their market price”.
The second batch of PM House vehicles comprises high-end luxury cars, which include Mercedes Benz S-300, Maybach S-600, BMW 7-Series, BMW X-Series among others.
As the bidding started Monday, the first car to be auctioned was a Toyota Corolla Altis (2010).
The successful bidder offered Rs11,20000 (over Rs1.12m) for the 1800cc car.
LIST OF VEHICLES AUCTIONED
- 4 Protected Mercedes G Class 2005 5000cc sold for Rs14.5m, Rs10.22m, Rs9.3m, and Rs8.6m respectively
- 1 Protected Toyota Land Cruiser V8 sold for Rs27.4m
- 8 BMW including three 2014 model sedans, three 5000cc SUVs and two 3000cc SUVs
- 4 Mercedes Benz Sedans of 2016 model, two of them are 4000cc bullet-proof vehicles
- 16 Toyota vehicles including one 2004 model Lexus, one 2006 Lexus SUV, two 2004 Land Cruisers, 8 cars model ranging from 2003 to 2013 and four protected Land Cruisers of 2015 models.
- 9 Honda vehicles including one 1800cc Civic
- 8 Suzuki vehicles including two Cultus, one APV and other
- 5 Mitsubishi vehicles
- 2 Cherokee Jeep
- 1 Hino bus
In his first address to the nation last month, Prime Minister Imran had asserted cutting government expenditure while promising that he would not live in the palatial PM House.
The 22nd premier had announced that there were 80 vehicles in possession of PM Office; however, he would retain only two of them.
In the first phase, non-imported cars have been put up for auction followed by imported models and then the bulletproof cars.
As part of the austerity drive, Imran Khan has also selected the residence of the military secretary, instead of the PM House. The said residence comprises three bedrooms only.
