Imran Khan promised Pakistan austerity after being elected, but commuting to work via helicopter may not be the best example of that.
Imran has been making the 15km journey from his private home to his official residence by helicopter. His choice of transport has come under criticism for being too lavish given his promises to make bureaucrats and politicians tighten their belts, reports BBC.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Fawad Chaudry quickly came to the prime minister’s defence claiming that helicopter was an inexpensive option costing only Rs55 (Tk37.49) per km.
"I have seen this on Google," he added.
The reason this sounds too cheap to be true is because it is not.
According to research by BBC Urdu, the fuel for the prime minister's helicopter, an Agusta Westland AW139, costs Rs1,600 per km, before other costs associated with running a helicopter are factored in.
And that was all people needed to start trolling. #Helicopter became the top Twitter trend in Pakistan on Monday with over 16,000 tweets using the hashtag and many making jokes about the claim, reports BBC.
Imran Khan must be using this #helicopter because only this helicopter can cost 55/Rs fule in 8 Km.
— Sohaib Ahmed (@WIFAN1) August 30, 2018
jitni petrol prices hain un main to 55 rupay k petrol say Honda 125 b 8/Km nhi clalta ? pic.twitter.com/MUgHbWBJSc
Barat Package available at Rs. 55/- per hour. #helicopter pic.twitter.com/ulHvLCdEFM
— Farhan Ijaz (@FarhanIjaz87) August 30, 2018
پنجاواں دا پا دے#Helicopter pic.twitter.com/w2BOVqZ7rd
— Imran Malik (@EmranMalik_) August 29, 2018
That Rs 55 per Km #Helicopter is expensive AF, @ImranKhanPTI must get this dude aboard, give him #Transport ministry or something and use this for 70 km in one litre.#CD70 #MadniTyara #Pakistan #PTI #ImranKhan #Heli #Banigala pic.twitter.com/ildHuGjrLM
— Dr Faraz Chaudry (@iDrFaraz) August 28, 2018
Will be best if they start this model from #BharaKahu to Abpara.#helicopter pic.twitter.com/1sgFscgDFc
— Dr. Roman Khan Wazir? (@romaancekhan) August 28, 2018
Imran Khan's cost of transport was compared to Careem, a ride-hailing smartphone app in Pakistan.
#helicopter
— Sadia Shaukat (@SadiaShaukat10) August 28, 2018
So now helicopter is cheaper then careem and uber then govt should start helicopter service for all peoples so they can save more money
Memes aside, Fawad Chaudry said Imran Khan did not travel via helicopter due to “VIP culture,” but for reasons pertaining to security of the PM.
"We have two options for the travel of the prime minister — by a motorcade that can cause traffic blockades or by helicopter; there is a difference between VIP culture and security protocol," he said.
