LAHORE – The Lahore High Court has sought details of expenses incurred by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led federal government for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s official trip.
The directives came on a petition seeking details of the cost incurred by the state on a two-day visit of the Saudi guest who signed multiple agreements during the tour.
The petitioner stated that the government had booked 300 luxury cars while the crown prince’s plane was escorted by JF-17 fighter jets as it entered Pakistani airspace.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/pakistan-hails-record-saudi-investment-as-crown-prince-mohammed-bin-salman-departs-after-first-state-visit/
Media reports suggest over Rs200 million were spent on the visit, the petitioner stated.
The petitioner contended that using the national exchequer to pay for a foreign dignitary’s state visit was against Islamic laws and traditions.
During the hearing, the high court bench highlighted that the petitioner could have requested the information from the Ministry of Information, however, the petitioner’s lawyer argued that since it was a public interest case, they did not need to approach the ministry, Express News reported.
Subsequently, the bench issued a notice to the federal government and concerned departments and gave them till March 19 to submit a reply.
The Saudi Crown prince had landed in Pakistan on his first state visit last week in which MoUs worth $20b were signed. Pakistan accorded a rousing welcome to the guest who was also awarded country’s highest civil award, Nishan-e-Pakistan by President Arif Alvi.
After visiting Pakistan, the Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman flew off to Saudi Arabia from where he visited India and finally China.
