Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari says CM Maryam Nawaz personally paid Rs 1.25 crore for London trip

The province’s political atmosphere grew tense this week as journalists and opposition legislators pressed for answers about a recent overseas delegation that saw the chief minister jet‑setting to London. Rumours of a hefty public‑funds bill sparked a flurry of phone calls to the Information Ministry, and the debate quickly turned into a broader test of the provincial government’s financial transparency.

Amid the clamor, Punjab’s Information Minister Azma Bukhari stepped forward in a press briefing to put the matter to rest. She asserted that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz herself covered roughly Rs 1.25 crore of the London trip’s costs, drawing the money directly from her private accounts rather than tapping the provincial treasury.

Bukhari’s clarification came after senior opposition figures demanded a detailed audit of the travel expenses, alleging that the trip might have been funded from the public purse. The minister emphasized that the amount in question was settled “out of her own pocket,” and that no provincial funds were allocated for airfare, accommodation, or ancillary costs associated with the visit.

Maryam Nawaz, who assumed the chief minister’s office earlier this year, has been navigating a delicate balance between high‑profile diplomatic engagements and the fiscal expectations of a province that contributes a substantial share of Pakistan’s GDP. The revelation that the trip’s financing was personal rather than governmental seeks to shield the administration from accusations of fiscal impropriety, a point that opposition parties are likely to test in upcoming assembly sessions.

If the minister’s statement holds up under scrutiny, it could blunt the narrative of misused public money and restore some confidence among voters who have grown wary of extravagant expenditures. However, the episode also underscores how closely any overseas movement by Punjab’s leadership will be watched, especially as the province prepares for the next round of budget allocations and the political fallout that typically follows high‑cost official travel.