Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday said that he had “Googled the per kilometre cost” of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s commute from his official accommodation to Bani Gala residence.
Addressing a press conference after the federal cabinet meeting, Fawad, in response to journalists’ queries, said that he had Googled the cost of the use of helicopter, suggesting the media representatives to check it themselves too.
“He [Imran Khan] is the prime minister. Would he travel via a taxi?” the minister asked.
On Monday, Fawad, while speaking to a private media outlet, had defended PM Khan’s use of chopper claiming that it only cost “Rs55 per kilometer”.
“This does not affect the public,” he had stated further, drawing massive derision from users on social networking platforms, who had been mocking the claim since.
Hundreds of them took to Twitter to troll the information minister in their own unique way.
On a lighter note: Positive criticism via #funny yet creative video on the issue of #helicopter commute to and from work. Any resemblance or similarity is purely coincidental. #welldone #Tabdeeli pic.twitter.com/ZUTKCmvsPu
— Raza Haroon (@mrazaharoon) August 28, 2018
“Every citizen will have their own helicopter in Naya Pakistan,” wrote a user.
نئے پاکستان میں ہر شہری کا اپنا ہیلی کاپٹر ہو گا ۔۔ #PTI #helicopter pic.twitter.com/Mk9iPJys6s
— K | M (@MKamiv) August 28, 2018
Posting the picture of a donkey with chopper blades attached to it, another user wrote, “A 70 CC national CNG helicopter, which costs rupees 50 per km.”
A 70 CC natinal CNG helicopter, which costs rupees 50 per km. pic.twitter.com/62xKKLEJTv
— Yede Beza (@zafarkhan_kakar) August 28, 2018
“Ladies, next time instead of arguing with a Rickshaw wala over a few rupees, check with the helicopter wala… it’s cheap, time-saving and no traffic jams as a bonus,” wrote another user.
Ladies, next time instead of arguing with Rickshaw wala over few rupees, check with helicopter wala… it’s cheap, time saving and no traffic jams as a bonus ? https://t.co/wZxYuE9fBb
— izibizi (@IzanurRahmeen) August 28, 2018
Earlier, the PM has been accused of illegally using official Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government helicopters for 74 hours causing a loss of Rs2.1 million to the national exchequer.
Khan had reportedly used an official MI 171 from Banigala to Kohat, Peshawar, Mardan, Batagram, Dir and Kumrat.
Moreover, through another helicopter, the PTI chief had allegedly travelled from Banigala to Peshawar, Kohat, Abbottabad, Haripur, Chitral, Swat and Nowshehra.
Former KP chief minister and Federal Defence Minister Pervez Khattak has already appeared before NAB regarding the case.
Earlier on February 2, NAB had taken notice of the issue.
