Mush’s US trip cost Pak $1m

[Bull]

Washington: Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf ’s recent 18-day visit to the US, which was flayed by the Opposition leaders, including Benazir Bhutto, for being a trip with the sole objective of promoting his book In the Line of Fire, may have cost Pakistan’s exchequer up to a whopping $1 million.
The trip is being described as one of the most expensive tours undertaken by any Pakistani head of state or government in the history of Pakistan.
According to the Daily Times, a total of 28 limousines plus two vans were hired for the delegation which cost the Pakistani taxpayer $375,000. While some limousines were placed on duty round the clock, others were hired for ten-hour shifts, added the paper.
On the first leg of the President’s visit, the entire delegation, barring some members of the official media, stayed at one of the district’s most expensive hotels—the Four Seasons—where a single room costs $500 or more.
The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) aircraft carrying the President remained parked in New York and for a couple of days in Washington. The President also went to Texas for a physical check-up. In calculating costs, what will need to be taken into account, first, is how much revenue PIA lost by the 18-day loss of one of its passenger aircraft.
If airport parking charges and fuel costs are added, the figure would surely cross $1 million. Some members of the delegation travelled from Pakistan and returned there by commercial flights.
Musharraf also visited Belgium, Cuba and the UK but the costs of those visits are not known. During the US visit, Musharraf addressed the UN General Assembly and held bilateral talks with President George W Bush. He met several world leaders on the sidelines of the summit and gave a string of media interviews. Bush welcomed the Pakistani leader at the White House on September 22 for talks as the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to fostering long-term and broad-based ties.
The Pakistani President interacted with business leaders in the US and urged them to invest heavily in his country.

 

[Bull]

I dint think $1 Mn is that nig an amount as what is made out to be.

But one thing is for sure,this visit was for publicising his book rathe than anything else.

 

[Awesome]

In how many instances did he promote the book and in how many instances did he battle the press for the sake of Pakistan? 1 million is steep, but it was an 18 day visit.

 

[Neo]

State business.
Pakistan is no exception.

 

[Skeptic786]

The figure of 1 m is incorrect...underestimation.

The truth is both Shuakat Aziz and Musharaf have spent more money on their foreign junkets than is allocated for the education of young children of whole of pakistan for a full year.

 

[Awesome]

The figure of 1 m is incorrect...underestimation.

The truth is both Shuakat Aziz and Musharaf have spent more money on their foreign junkets than is allocated for the education of young children of whole of pakistan for a full year.

Booze, bars, strip clubs? What will a person spend the money on that you're taking the figure over millions?

This was a very high profile visit. Most aren't.

 

[Skeptic786]

Booze, bars, strip clubs? What will a person spend the money on that you're taking the figure over millions?

This was a very high profile visit. Most aren't.

if musharaf and shaukat aziz per se visited booze,bars clubs the figures would not be in the millions as you trying to side track what i said.

whenever musharaf and shaukat aziz leave the country...its with an entourage which even a mogul king would have hesitated taking along with him. This whole entourage has to be fed, entertained, shopped for to first class standard ( VIP ). This is where the expenditure comes from. Take musharaf tour of america...not only musharaf and few senior ministers....but almost all the cabinent with many family members each had flown to america on state expense for the junket. Therefore the expenditure on these lackeys and hangers-on is now way more than the state spends on educating the young for full one year.

 

[Awesome]

You mean they leave with a delegation?

Isn't that a good thing? While Musharraf and all are just dealing with the usual things these guys are busy doing some business for Pakistan?

Or no, he just took them along for Disney Land? That's how business is done especially when visiting countries whose business we need.

 

[Skeptic786]

You mean they leave with a delegation?

Isn't that a good thing? While Musharraf and all are just dealing with the usual things these guys are busy doing some business for Pakistan?

Or no, he just took them along for Disney Land? That's how business is done especially when visiting countries whose business we need.

yaar first try analysing the delegation that left with musharaf for the american tour then come back with arguments. Ministers with no engagements of any sort along with families where there....as free junket on state expense ( i donot know but i would not rule out disney trips for their kids ). But the matter is not left at ministers but also lackeys and scophants from the media and other fields....who's sole purpose for going along is enjoying the experience at state expense. Now if Pakistan was rich...this would not be a problem. But unfortunately this wasteful spending is getting out of hand when we can spend the money on more meaningful things...like doubling education budget ( Mushy and Aziz can still go to america and have whale of time there--two or ten people with them willnot break the bank or stop official business )

Reputable businessman/woman...who are doing meaningful business donot need this kind of state expense to be lavished on them....and delegation rarely includes such people. Pakistan's most reputable business people do go abroad on their own expense to do business ( thats the point of them earning money in the first place).

 

[Awesome]

And you came up with this 'analysis' how?

 

[araz]

I dint think $1 Mn is that nig an amount as what is made out to be.

But one thing is for sure,this visit was for publicising his book rathe than anything else.

fo a poor country where some people still go without food, it is a humungous amount. I knowthat BB and NS have all in the past spent huge amounts on Official visits, but if Musharraf says that he wants to be better than those two, he should pay some of the amount from the proceeds of his book towards meeting these expenses. I think the nature of this visit was entirely to promote his book and for the Government to bear these costs is obscene.
araz

 

[Awesome]

You have to spend some to get some.

 

[Goodperson]

You have to spend some to get some.

Why couldn't he publish his book in Pakistan ?

 

[Lahori paa jee]

$ 1m is an underestimate

 

[Awesome]

It's upto the publishing company.