Pakistan’s new government on Monday began auctioning off about 100 government-owned vehicles as part of new Prime Minister Imran Khan’s highly publicised cost-cutting drive, which has drawn mixed reviews.
Auction official Mohammad Asif said that the vehicles could bring in about two billion Pakistani rupees ($16 million) to the cash-strapped government’s coffers, although that estimate depends on finding buyers for four bullet-proof Mercedes, estimated in value together at one billion Pakistani rupees.
Critics say the cost-cutting has been mostly cosmetic. Mr. Khan’s austerity vows have been undercut by his near-daily helicopter commute from his home in the hills above Islamabad.
However. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said the helicopter commute used less fuel than a motorcade, at one point arguing that it cost only 50 Pakistani rupees (40 cents) per kilometre.
