Balochistan Assembly Awards Contract for Purchase of 55 Cars Worth Over Rs. 230 Million Amidst Austerity Claims
Quetta:In a move that has raised eyebrows amidst ongoing claims of austerity measures, the **Balochistan Provincial Assembly** has awarded a contract for the purchase of **55 vehicles** valued at over **Rs. 230 million**. According to documents received by **NNI**, the assembly has decided to purchase **2024 model, 1000cc vehicles** for its officials, with a total cost of **Rs. 23 crore 34 lakh 20 thousand**.
The contract for supplying these vehicles has been awarded to a local company, and the vehicles will be delivered at a rate of **Rs. 42 lakh 44 thousand per vehicle**. This decision comes at a time when the **Balochistan government** has been publicly stressing the need for fiscal discipline and budgetary restraint, citing financial challenges facing the province.
### **Controversy Over Austerity Claims**
The purchase of luxury cars for assembly officials contradicts the province’s ongoing **austerity campaign**, which was launched earlier this year to address the **financial issues** the province is facing. Under the austerity drive, the government had announced a series of measures to cut down on unnecessary expenditures. However, the decision to purchase high-cost vehicles for senior officials has sparked controversy, with critics questioning the sincerity of the government’s fiscal discipline efforts.
The **Balochistan Assembly Secretariat** has set a **deadline of January 25, 2025**, for the delivery of these vehicles by the supplying company. This has added to the growing criticism, as many believe that the funds could have been better allocated to address more pressing issues within the province, especially given the current **economic constraints**.
### **Background of the Purchase**
This vehicle purchase is part of an ongoing initiative by the **Balochistan Assembly** to equip its officials with new cars, under a plan where the cost of these vehicles is intended to be deducted from the salaries of the officials themselves. While this plan was initially presented as a measure to streamline expenses, the recent high-value purchase has raised questions about the actual intent behind the austerity drive.
The decision has led to mixed reactions, with some defending it as necessary for the functioning of the assembly, while others see it as a contradiction to the government’s stated goals of financial restraint. Many argue that in a province struggling with **budgetary deficits** and **public sector inefficiencies**, such large-scale expenditures on luxury vehicles appear out of touch with the realities faced by the common people.
### **Public Outcry and Criticism**
Local commentators and political opponents have criticized the decision, calling it an example of **mismanagement** in a time when the provincial government should be focusing on addressing **basic infrastructure**, **education**, and **healthcare** challenges. Critics argue that the government should prioritize **public welfare projects** over purchasing expensive vehicles for officials.
Despite the controversy, the government maintains that the purchase is part of the regular functioning of the assembly and that it is essential for the smooth operation of administrative duties. However, with growing public discontent and financial challenges looming large, the decision may have significant political ramifications for the government’s credibility in the coming months.
