PM Shehbaz Sharif warned Islamabad’s senior officials to quit lavish buggy rides.
The prime minister intervened after a video of the city’s commissioner and the Islamabad Inspector General of Police enjoying a ride in a decorative buggy spread widely on social media. The clip, filmed on a bustling boulevard, showed the officials seated comfortably while traffic flowed around them, prompting a wave of criticism that their conduct flaunted excess in a city already grappling with cost‑of‑living pressures.
In a direct message to the officials, Shehbaz Sharif stressed that any appearance of pomp or extravagance is incompatible with the responsibilities of public office. He urged them to adopt a modest demeanor, reminding them that their actions are constantly scrutinised by citizens who expect accountability and service, not personal spectacle.
The episode taps into a broader public frustration with perceived elitism among government representatives, especially in the capital where policy decisions and administrative actions have nationwide ripple effects. Analysts note that such displays can erode trust at a time when the government is seeking to bolster its reform agenda and address urban infrastructure challenges.
Civil‑society groups and opposition lawmakers quickly condemned the buggy ride as tone‑deaf, calling for stricter oversight of officials’ use of state resources. Social‑media users flooded the platform with memes and calls for transparency, arguing that leaders should model the frugality they ask of ordinary Pakistanis.
Shehbaz Sharif’s directive includes an internal review of the incident and a reminder that future conduct must align with the principles of public trust. He warned that repeated lapses could lead to disciplinary action, signalling a tighter stance on the conduct of senior bureaucrats in Islamabad.