Pak auctions PM House buffaloes
ISLAMABAD: The sale of eight buffaloes belonging to the Pakistan Prime Minister’s House at an auction held in Islamabad on Thursday fetched Rs 2.3 million.
Of the octet, one was purchased by one Qalb Ali, a resident of Jhangi Sayedan, who paid Rs 385,000 for the animal. Ali told the media the animal’s actual valuation was a mere Rs 120,000 but he paid a premium on account of its “sentimental value”.
“I purchased this buffalo owing to my affection for Nawaz Sharif,” he said, referring to the PML-N party leader who was ousted from the post of prime minister by the Supreme Court last year over charges of corruption.
“I will keep it as a symbol of Nawaz Sharif and our sister, Maryam Nawaz,” he said, referring to the ousted premier’s daughter.
All the buffalos had been bought during Sharif’s term to supply fresh milk to the Prime Minister’s House.
The auction of the buffaloes was part of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s austerity drive, through which he plans to cut down government expenditure. Khan believes these measures will make the people follow suit.
On September 17, a total of 61 luxury and surplus vehicles belonging to the Prime Minister’s House were auctioned, reportedly boosting the government’s coffers by some Rs 200 million.
Sharif and his daughter were jailed earlier this year in a separate graft case by an anti-corruption court. They are currently free on bail as the Islamabad high court considers their appeal against their conviction.