Govt defends purchase of 45 bulletproof vehicles for SCO summit | The Express Tribune

The federal government on Wednesday defended its procurement of 45 bulletproof vehicles for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Council of Heads of State (CHS) Summit scheduled during August-September 2027 in Islamabad, saying the vehicles were essential to meet security requirements for the high-profile international gathering.

A day earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the procurement of 45 against the demanded 65 bulletproof vehicles for the security of SCO leaders, according to the cabinet division, which also claimed the move was endorsed by the deputy PM and the ministries of foreign affairs and interior. The approval sparked outcry on social media.

The Cabinet Division, in a statement shared by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on X, rejected what it described as “sceptical and unwarranted” criticism in the press and on social media over the purchase.

Pakistan is currently chairing the SCO Council of Heads of State, and the government said the upcoming summit would be among the country’s most significant international events.

“The summit, scheduled to be held in Islamabad during August-September 2027, will be the most high-profile gathering, second only to the 1973 OIC Summit. This will give Pakistan an opportunity to further raise its stature and honour amongst the comity of nations,” the press release stated.

According to the statement, the summit would bring together heads of state and government as well as senior representatives of international organisations, making secure and reliable transport arrangements a critical requirement.

The government said security considerations were particularly important given Pakistan’s prevailing security environment and what it described as threats from hostile external elements.

“At present, the latest model bulletproof vehicles available with the Cabinet Division are a few 2016 models, which are far below the standards required for the summit,” the statement said.

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The decision to procure 45 bulletproof vehicles was considered at several forums, according to the Cabinet Division, which said the number had been determined on the basis of the “bare minimum requirement”.

The government clarified that the bulletproof vehicles would only form part of the overall transport arrangements for the summit. Around 300 other non-bulletproof vehicles would be rented for logistical requirements, it added.

The Cabinet Division said the summit represented an important opportunity for Pakistan to enhance its international standing and showcase its capacity to host major diplomatic events.

Describing the SCO summit as a prestigious international gathering, the government said its significance should not be “underestimated, trivialised or politicised”.

It also urged citizens to view the hosting of the summit as an honour for Pakistan and support efforts to organise the event according to international standards.

The SCO, which includes major regional countries, holds its Council of Heads of State meeting annually to discuss cooperation and key regional and international issues.

Yesterday, the Cabinet Division told the meeting that in compliance with the premier’s directive, 15 BMW 760i xDrive (VR9) bulletproof sedans, costing Rs3billion, would be procured in addition to the 30 bulletproof Mercedes-Benz Maybach S680 Guard (VR10) sedans, for which the Economic Coordination Committee had already approved a supplementary grant of Rs6.60 billion.

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Appalled by the approval, former senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed took the government to task.

In a post on X, the former upper house representative said, “Government of Pakistan plans to buy 45 bulletproof luxury limousines for Rs 9.6 billion for 9 leaders of SCO for Summit in 2027 for ‘security’ reasons, but security problem has worsened with Pakistan on top of World Terrorism Index as worst-hit country in world! Where’s the CT (counter terrorism) strategy?”

Former Sindh governor Mohammad Zubair Umar also assailed the purchase on social media.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf also criticised the government over the purchase, apart from citizens calling out the government for the “poor decision”.