Outrage in Pakistan as Punjab’s government buy multi-million-dollar luxury Jet amid economic crisis

By Our Correspondent

ISLAMABAD - Reports that Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province has acquired a luxury jet worth up to $42 million have triggered widespread criticism, as the country grapples with economic hardship under an International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout program.

According to Pakistan’s leading daily Dawn, a 2019-manufactured Gulfstream GVII-G500 business jet has been spotted operating between airports in Punjab since mid-February, based on flight-tracking data. The aircraft, previously registered in the United States as N144S, is expected to receive Pakistani registration.

"Happy to note that the Government of Punjab, Pakistan, has acquired a new, 2019-manufactured Gulfstream GVII-G500 aircraft for their VIP transport role," The STRATCOM Bureau, which mainly shares defence- and security-related news, said on X.

Aviation sources estimate the jet’s market value between $38 million and $42 million. The Punjab provincial government has not issued an official statement confirming or denying the reported acquisition.

The aircraft is currently listed in US Federal Aviation Administration records as owned by TVPX Aircraft Solutions Inc., a Utah-based trustee company that manages aircraft ownership structures, often for international clients. Such arrangements are commonly used for regulatory or privacy purposes.

The Gulfstream G500 is a long-range corporate jet capable of flying approximately 5,300 nautical miles and accommodating up to 19 passengers. It features advanced avionics and customizable luxury interiors, specifications typically associated with executive or VIP transport.

- Public backlash

The reports have sparked criticism from opposition politicians and economic commentators, who question the timing of such a purchase as Pakistan faces high inflation, unemployment, and fiscal tightening measures tied to a $7 billion IMF Extended Fund Facility approved in 2024.

Former finance minister Miftah Ismail criticized the move on social media, contrasting the alleged jet purchase with recent increases in petroleum prices. The federal government recently raised petrol and diesel prices as part of broader fiscal adjustments.

"One, Stratcom’s claim (that hasn’t been denied by the Punjab government) that the Punjab government has acquired a Gulf Stream jet for VIPs for between $38m and $42m (or Rs 1064 crore and Rs 1176 crore). Two, the federal govt has increased the price of petrol by Rs 5 and diesel by Rs 7.32 per litre. So while Pakistanis are supposed to tighten our belts and sacrifice, Punjab’s entitled VIPs are fastening their seatbelts for taking off in luxury private jets," he wrote on X.

Former Sindh governor Mohammad Zubair also questioned whether such an expenditure is appropriate at a time when millions of Pakistanis are living below the poverty line, and unemployment remains elevated.

Pakistan’s unemployment rate stood at 7.1% in fiscal year 2025, its highest level in more than two decades, with young people disproportionately affected. The World Bank has warned that the country must generate tens of millions of jobs over the next decade to maintain social stability.

- Political sensitivity

Punjab is governed by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). Official provincial debt figures indicate Punjab carries substantial liabilities, although it has also launched large-scale development initiatives in recent years.

As of Wednesday evening, provincial authorities had not publicly addressed the reports. The lack of clarification has further fueled debate over government spending priorities at a time when many citizens are facing rising living costs and reduced purchasing power.