ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Wednesday defended its decision to buy 45 bulletproof vehicles for the SCO summit in Islamabad next year, saying the purchase was the bare minimum needed to protect visiting world leaders.
bulletproof vehicles SCO summit: Why the government says the purchase is needed
The Cabinet Division said the SCO summit would be among the most high-profile international events Pakistan has hosted, describing it as the biggest gathering of world leaders in the country since the 1973 Organisation of Islamic Cooperation summit. Heads of state, heads of government and leaders of international organisations are expected to attend.
Given the profile of the visitors, the press release said it was imperative to provide safe, secure and reliable logistics in line with standard security protocols for visiting dignitaries. It added that maximum protection was all the more critical in view of Pakistan’s security situation and threats from hostile external elements.
bulletproof vehicles SCO summit: Answering the critics
The statement pushed back at what it called sceptical and unwarranted comments in the press and on social media, saying critics had missed the context and perspective of the purchase. The number of 45 vehicles, it said, was decided after deliberation at several forums and reflected the bare minimum requirement.
On the state of the current fleet, the Cabinet Division was blunt: the latest bulletproof vehicles available to it are 2016 models, which it said are far below the standards required for a summit of this scale.
The press release closed with an appeal to national pride, saying Pakistanis should be proud of the honour of hosting the summit and support the government’s effort to organise it in a befitting manner.
Austerity backdrop
The justification comes weeks after the government re-imposed austerity measures on September 17 to conserve fuel amid renewed tensions in the Middle East. Those measures included a complete ban on the purchase of all types of vehicles, though the restriction does not apply to development projects.
Frequently asked questions
bulletproof vehicles SCO summit: How many is the government buying?
Forty-five. The Cabinet Division says the number was settled after discussion at several forums and represents the bare minimum requirement for the SCO summit.
bulletproof vehicles SCO summit: What will the purchase cost?
The Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet approved a supplementary grant of more than Rs6 billion for the purchase earlier this month.
bulletproof vehicles SCO summit: When and where is the SCO summit?
The SCO Council of Heads of State meeting is scheduled to be held in Islamabad during August-September 2027.
Why can’t the government use its existing vehicles?
According to the Cabinet Division, the latest bulletproof vehicles in its fleet are 2016 models, which it says fall far below the standards required for protecting visiting heads of state.
Didn’t the government ban vehicle purchases under austerity?
Yes. On September 17 the government re-imposed austerity measures including a complete ban on buying vehicles of all types, but the ban does not cover development projects. The government has not said whether the bulletproof vehicle purchase falls under an exemption.
