The Sindh government clarified its choice to buy assistant commissioners opulent cars, saying the matter had been “taken out of context.”

On Thursday, a government representative clarified that recent media reports casting doubt on the Rs2 billion allotment for brand-new double-cabin cars were incomplete and inaccurate in their representation of the necessity of the purchase.

The statement said, “Assistant commissioners are the backbone of provincial administration.” It further stated that they have a variety of responsibilities, such as upholding law and order, managing flooding, conducting inspections, and doing electoral tasks.

According to the spokeswoman, the assistant commissioners’ last vehicle purchase was made more than ten years ago, and the fleet they currently own is “beyond its operational life.” Officers are compelled to use rental automobiles or private vehicles for official business because some of the vehicles are outdated from 2005.

The government maintained that buying new cars will save the enormous sums of money that are presently being spent on maintaining old cars. The statement underlined that “these are not luxury cars but operational vehicles” and said that the procurement would be done in an economical manner.

Additionally, the statement reaffirmed Sindh’s commitment to meeting the needs of flood victims while maintaining the importance of maintaining administrative effectiveness. It further stated that adjacent provinces have provided their officials with comparable training to guarantee efficient public service.

“This decision is a necessary and justified step to enhance the administrative capabilities of our officers, ensuring they can serve the public effectively,” the statement ended.

The Sindh Assembly received a motion against the government’s decision to buy 138 opulent double-cabin cars, which has caused controversy. Sarbuland Khan, a member of the PTI, submitted the resolution.

The Sindh government has sanctioned a sizeable amount of Rs2 billion for the purchase of 138 new double-cabin 4×4 vehicles for assistant commissioners, according to the resolution tabled today. “At a time when the government should focus on reducing “royal” expenditures, such a decision is highly inappropriate,” said Sarbuland Khan in criticism of the action.

The resolution emphasizes how drastically different this purchase is from Sindh’s terrible circumstances, when people lack access to essential services like healthcare and education. “Increasing lavish expenditures when people are deprived of essential services is an insult to the public,” Khan remarked.

The resolution also brought attention to Sindh’s continuous flood problem, where intense rains have devastated farms and forced hundreds of residents to flee their homes. “In these circumstances, allocating funds for luxury vehicles instead of projects for the welfare of flood victims is a decision against the people,” the resolution argued.

It demanded that the purchase be stopped right now and that the money be used to help those affected by flooding.

The acquisition was approved earlier this week by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in spite of the province government’s assertions of austerity and budgetary restrictions. Rasheed Channa, a spokesman for the Chief Minister’s Office, justified the choice, stating that the vehicles, which were last purchased 12 years ago, were necessary for official activities, especially in remote areas.

Subsequent reports suggested that deputy commissioners will soon be getting even more costly cars.