Vehicles for ministers, advisers Punjab govt declines to disclose details

LAHORE: The Punjab government has declined a request seeking details of vehicles provided to ministers, advisers and parliamentary secretaries under the right to information law.

In response to Mohsin Bilal’s application, the Services and General Administration department said that the ministers and advisers are entitles to government vehicles under the 1975 law governing minister’s salaries and privileges and two ordinances of year 2002.

They are provided vehicles, not new ones, from various departments. There is no limit on fuel consumption. However, they are provided fuel as required. The parliamentary secretaries are paid Rs20,000 under the head of fuel, repair and driver’s salary.

The chief minister can import a car up to 3200CC with paying customs duty and sales tax if the federal government allows. Chief Information Commissioner Mehboob Qadir Shah said the registration numbers fall in the sensitive information category because of security concerns,