Beyond our means

How can the PM justify using his discretionary powers to declare his family private residence located in the UK as the temporary PM Camp Office. The UK is an alien foreign territory where our high commissioner represents State. Is there any precedent during our transition phase from 1947 to 1957 where our governor general, president or PM ever had their camp offices located in any foreign country?

According to the government’s own statistics, the total revenues for FY 2016 stand at Rs4.446 trillion, while expenditure is Rs5.7 trillion – a deficit of Rs1.35 trillion. For a country which relies heavily on foreign aid from countries whose head of states and paid civil and uniformed officers live in modest houses, our elected and paid public office-holders should certainly not live in palatial houses with scores of servants all at state expense. A country facing such a financial crunch cannot afford to pay for a temporary PM Camp Office based in London and bear all expenses incurred just because he chooses to have his medical treatment done at the prestigious Harley Street Clinic. It is time sanity prevailed.

Ali Malik Tariq

Lahore