Only in Pakistan: Pm to buy new planes for foriegn trips

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Pakistan government is to buy two business jets, including an Airbus, to be used by the prime minister for his foreign trips, a media report Monday said.
The English-language newspaper The News quoted a senior official in the prime minister’s secretariat as saying that the chief executive needs the executive jets for his exclusive use because of his “much-required” official foreign visits.

The report of new purchases comes at a time when Pakistan is already in need of huge additional money for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the areas ravaged by the devastating Oct 8 earthquake, which killed 86,000 people and rendered some 3.5 million homeless.

On Saturday, an international donors’ conference here pledged over $5.8 billion for reconstruction of the area spreading over 28,000 square km in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.

Other prime ministers have such exclusive aircraft, the official said, adding that in the past Pakistani premiers have had such business jets.

simply amazing, plz dont say this is report only from indian paper, they are quotin THE NEWS, pakisani paper, im looking for that report also just will take sometime. n e way at a time when u were drenching ur self in debt with the donors conference for earthquak victims, you PM is buying new planes!!

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Re: Only in Pakistan: Pm to buy new planes for foriegn trips

If this news is correct it is very bad timing when people are starving and freezing to death in kashmir, the Government buying luxury planes for foriegn trips is in very bad taste and is quite sick to be honest!

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Re: Only in Pakistan: Pm to buy new planes for foriegn trips

Jazba_pk, you should do some research before you post in haste. The two aircraft are needed by the country, and the reasons given below.

We currently have 2 planes for VVIPs such as the PM to use. One has outlived its serviceable lifespan and needs to be replaced due to poor reliability, cause by the fact that spare parts cannot be purchased.

The other plane is not only even older, but is unsafe and no longer classified airworthy, after it caught fire in mid-air 5 years ago.

ISLAMABAD: A spokesman for the Defence Production Division has termed as inaccurate and misleading a report in ‘The News’ of November 21 to the effect that two planes are being purchased for the ‘exclusive use’ of the prime minister for his foreign trips.

The fact is that planes meant for official use are maintained in a pool by the Pakistan Air Force and are used by VVIPs and VIPs for official visits as and when required. They are by no means meant for the individual use of any person. The present VVIP fleet consists of a Falcon DA-20 and a Boeing 707, with the former meant for short-range trips and the latter for long haul travel.

The Falcon was bought in 1972 and, after 33 years, has outlived its useful and serviceable life and has been due for replacement for some time. Its reliability has been assessed as poor by the Pakistan Air Force mainly because of problems of readily available of spare parts which makes it unavailable for flight most of the time. The Boeing was manufactured in 1968 and was decommissioned in the year 2000 for VVIP use after a history of troubles including an emergency landing in Australia by a former President after one of its engines caught fire. The aircraft is no more air worthy and is now permanently grounded.

Accordingly, on technical advice, the decision to carry out the normal replacement of these two aircraft after their useful life was taken over a year back and, after going through the procurement process, as used Gulf stream jet is being purchased for the time being which will be replaced by a new aircraft in about two years. The replacement for the Boeing 707 has still not materialised. To save on cost, purchase of a suitable used aircraft is being explored for long haul use.

The spokesman further clarified that maintenance of a VVIP fleet is a normal arrangement all over the world owing to security requirements of VVIPs. The two aircraft will, as at present, be placed in the VVIP squadron maintained by the Pakistan Air Force for use by the VVIPs, VIPs and foreign dignitaries when required.

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Re: Only in Pakistan: Pm to buy new planes for foriegn trips

Sounds more reasonable if the planes are 33 years old they should be replaced!

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Re: Only in Pakistan: Pm to buy new planes for foriegn trips

Aye. Very reasonable.

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Re: Only in Pakistan: Pm to buy new planes for foriegn trips

Oh yes…very reasonable…:rolleyes:

even Tony blair doesn’t have his own plane, and that’s with the 4th largest economy in the world!

Some Mushy lovers will say anything to defend him, but as he shows again and again, him and his govt have no care for the people, just like all the greedy rulers in Pakistan :frowning:

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Re: Only in Pakistan: Pm to buy new planes for foriegn trips

i think even indian pm they borrow a plane from the air force! look at blair as some1 pointed out here!! i can not belive you are defending this

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Re: Only in Pakistan: Pm to buy new planes for foriegn trips

Members of the British Royal family have their own planes, and the PM and his senior ministers have their own jets and chartered planes. Same goes for France, US etc etc. The Pakistan govt replacing a couple of 33 year old planes, which are to be used by all VIP’s (incl. foreign) is a mere pittance compared to what others in the world have.

http://news.scotsman.com/politics.cfm?id=673932005

The Usuals
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Re: Only in Pakistan: Pm to buy new planes for foriegn trips

chaad dayoo ay galaan......ronaa townaa na karya karo.....kee hay jay wacharay nay jahaz order keetay nay....unaay pooch layaa see upnaay payyo kolon....

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Re: Only in Pakistan: Pm to buy new planes for foriegn trips

Is there a part of “The fact is that planes meant for official use are maintained in a pool by the Pakistan Air Force and are used by VVIPs and VIPs for official visits as and when required. They are by no means meant for the individual use of any person.” that you two had difficulty understanding from the article that I posted earlier?

These planes are being purchased to be the property of the Pakistan Air Force, and will be used to transport any VVIPs who Pakistan deems fit to need official transportation.

To clarify for you, Jazba_pk, this means that Pakistan’s PM, like the Indian PM, will be borrowing a plane from the air force for his travels.

To clarify for you, TheRealDeal, this means that just like Tony Blair, Pakistan’s PM will not have his own plane either. He will borrow one from the Pakistan Air Force for his travels from a pool of planes used for VVIP travel by any VVIP.

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Re: Only in Pakistan: Pm to buy new planes for foriegn trips

US President plane is maintained by Air Force, that doesn’t mean its not for his sole personal use,same with other countries. Let’s not pretend otherwise

Again, even Tony Blair with tens of billions more does not get his own plane, yet Pakistan PM/Pres does. And please don’t say they need it for security, there is nobody AL-Qaeda would like to kill more than Blair and Bush

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,2087-1880086,00.html

GORDON BROWN is blocking Downing Street’s efforts to buy a new aircraft, nicknamed “Blair Force One”, which would be used on the prime minister’s official trips.

**The chancellor made clear at a meeting last week that there would be no new funds to buy the jet and two other aircraft for ministers. **

**NI_MPU(‘middle’);**Despite support for the plan from the Foreign Office and Ministry of Defence (MoD), Brown is arguing that at a time when public funds are tight, there are bigger priorities than “prestige” prime ministerial travel.

If Tony Blair were to get such an aircraft, likely to be a jet with up to 40 seats, it would put him on a par with leaders such as the US president, who has two Air Force One jumbo jets at his disposal. Blair’s plane would be kitted out with beds and sophisticated communications equipment.

A Treasury insider said: “Gordon has thrown a spanner in the works and rejected plans to spend additional money. He has made clear that if this plan is to go ahead, the MoD will have to fund it out of its own budget, which is very tight. We should be proud that we are the only G8 country not to have a dedicated plane for politicians.”

**The row comes after Brown was presented with a report, commissioned by Downing Street, on upgrading the fleet of MoD aircraft that are provided for the royal family but shared with ministers. **

Brown argues that it should be the security of the Queen “and not the prestige of ministers” that should be decisive.

Last week Brown met Sir Peter Gershon, the government’s efficiency adviser, whose report recommends that three new aircraft be put at the disposal of ministers and the royal family. **Ministers currently borrow aircraft from 32 Squadron, known as the Queen’s Flight. But the ageing fleet is unable to fly long distances. No 10 has often had to charter commercial jets for long-haul flights, spending £800,000 on overseas travel in the past year. **Gershon recommends that Blair and ministers should get their own fleet. This would be “cost neutral” to the taxpayer although it would require a large initial expenditure.

* H P *
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Re: Only in Pakistan: Pm to buy new planes for foriegn trips

Well stated, but I think some people seem to have missed the parts that I have bolded in red. But a damn good and factual post by yourself. :k:

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Re: Only in Pakistan: Pm to buy new planes for foriegn trips

:rolleyes: once again you ignore the facts, just because a plane is being taken care of by the Air Force doesn’t mean its not specifically bought for the use of the President. America’s Air Force One being the most famous example

But i wouldn’t expect to you acknowledge reality anyways

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Re: Only in Pakistan: Pm to buy new planes for foriegn trips

Dear TRD, I understand your point about corruption in Pakistan.

However this particular example of buying plane in itself is not a corrupt practice. Still we need to be watchful of any kickbacks in this contract.

You have to give credit that the current government is “relatively” corruption free. At least from my vantage point I have not heard of Musharraf or PM is taking 10% bribe for the major contracts.

Anyway thanks for being vigilant about corruption in Pakistan. It is people like you who really want our country to prosper and progress.

Best regards

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Re: Only in Pakistan: Pm to buy new planes for foriegn trips

Thanks for your comments anti. We all at teh very least,need to point out the wrongs that occur in Pakistan whether under the Army or politicians. Once we stop, these acts will become completely acceptable. As the saying goes 'All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing’

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Re: Only in Pakistan: Pm to buy new planes for foriegn trips

You are still assuming the plane is being bought for the personal travel of Shaukat Aziz alone. However, as the article makes clear, this is for the travel of any VVIPs, rather than just the PM. In other words, this is no "Blair Force One", the plane is not for the personal use of the PM alone. Any Pakistani VVIP or visiting VVIP will be conveyed by the plane.

Shaukat Aziz is one amongst many VVIPs in Pakistan. Another example can be seen in the article. One of the planes that the new planes will be replaced was used to fly a President of Pakistan to Australia.

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Re: Only in Pakistan: Pm to buy new planes for foriegn trips

In this case, the planes are being bought by Aziz for Aziz(and Mush).

If a few others use it every now and then, thats not the point, it is being bought by Aziz/Mush for Aziz/Mush.

Even if your assertion is so, that makes it worse. 3rd world Pakistani minsters with their own fleet of planes, instead of flying commercial...SIGH!! :(

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Re: Only in Pakistan: Pm to buy new planes for foriegn trips

Commercial planes are not always available to fly at the times and places needed for government business. Additionally, VVIP planes are often equipped with specialised electronics such as missile defenses that are not installed on commercial airliners.

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Re: Only in Pakistan: Pm to buy new planes for foriegn trips

what do people expect really, that the president and prime minister would be standing in line to get on stand by flights on shaheen airways to get from karachi to multan?

bhai logo in the greater scheme of things, the safety of the leaders as well as other dignitaries is important, and the ability to let them focus on important business at hand rather than be bogged down by minutia is important.

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Mad Sci- This is the same situation for other countries, yet their leaders are not allowed to use this excuse, it is simply not good enough.

Fraudia- Lets not exxagerate please.

Ministers using commercial flights are always given VIP travel, including security. As for PM or President, they can lease a plane whenever they need it, just like Tony Blair and other leader of much richer countries do.

Pakistani leaders have no excuse, their taste for high living at the expense of the people continues unabated.