It is noticed that our officers from different public sector organization have become status conscious and spend public money on useless items, including brand new cars despite having several road worthy cars and other vehicles in the official pool. Many public officers both at the federal and provincial level organizations are also demanding new vehicles as official cars.
A few organizations are reported to have decided to buy the vehicles at a time millions of Pakistanis are facing severe economic hardship, including nonpayment of salaries. These are always purchased from the national kitty, estimated to be costing millions of rupees from the taxpayers money, that could be spent on vaccinating newborns and save them from dying or on providing electricity for remote areas or on books and uniform for kids so they do not stop going to their schools.
The question is: If we are a developing nation where millions of people live in extreme poverty, then why do our rulers and relevant ministries and departments allow the status crazy retired and other lot to spend money on useless status symbols like mementos, handbags, fabulous trips here and there, and buying brand new cars?
HASHIM ABRO,
Islamabad, March 4.