Roving Periscope: Broke Naya Pakistan to rent out PM Imran’s official residence!
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: Imagine loud Punjabi music blaring out and ecstatic baaratis dancing their way with gay abandon right into the Prime Minister’s official residence in Islamabad, where the bride’s family, friends, and relatives anxiously await their frenzied guests.
No. Pak PM Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi is not marrying a fourth time. He has just rented out his palatial official residence to earn a quick buck—of course, he does not live there and uses his own house.
The ‘innovative’ step to rent out even the Pakistan PM’s official residence in the national capital is yet another attempt to manage a ‘financial crunch’, Pakistani media reported.
Imran had vacated this house in Islamabad after his Naya Pakistan’s government announced in August 2019 its plan to convert the PM’s house into a state-of-the-art federal educational institution or university.
Nobody knows what happened thereafter. But, reeling from a financial crunch, Pakistan has now put this house on the market for rent, local media said.
Earlier, the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government led by Imran Khan had announced its plans to convert the official residence into a university. However, that plan has now reportedly been dropped, with the federal government instead deciding to rent out the property.
According to a report by Samaa TV, the federal government has decided to rent out the property to people who want to hold cultural, fashion, educational, and other events at the premises located in the Red Zone in Islamabad.
“Two committees have been formed for this purpose. They will be responsible for ensuring that the discipline and decorum of the PM House are not violated during the events,” Saama TV said.
According to local media, the federal cabinet will discuss ways to garner revenue from the PM House building.
The auditorium of the PM House, two guest wings, and a lawn will probably be rented out to generate funds. High-level diplomatic functions and international seminars will also be held at the former principal workplace of the Pakistani PM.
Imran Khan had, after taking over as Pakistan’s PM, announced that the federal government doesn’t have the money to spend on public welfare schemes, while a few people in the country are “living like our colonial masters used to live”.
He has since then been living at his Bani Gala residence and only uses the PM’s office.
Pakistan’s economy has shrunk by USD 19 billion in the last three years since Khan came to the power. When he became the PM, he took many austere steps to cut down government expenses to give respite to the country’s economy.
