Sayeed Muhammad: Lower-than-expected sales in an auction of Pakistani government vehicles have caused another early debacle to new Prime Minister Imran Khan’s pledge to raise quick revenues through cost-cutting.
The auction yesterday raised about $1.6 million, said government official Mohammad Asif, reports Reuters.
The amount is just one-tenth of what he had predicted, and only 61 of just over 100 vehicles were sold.
The event had been billed as part of Khan’s drive to give “the nation’s wealth to its rightful owners”, with critics saying most of the measures as yet are more symbolism than significant savings.
During his election campaign, Khan railed against what he denounced as corruption and waste by the two main political parties that ruled for more than 50 years in between periods of military rule.
He also promised cutting costs, including trimming motorcades of government officials and selling public land.
“It is a change of mindset,” he said in a speech on Friday. “I will be counting every single rupee I have to spend on me.”
Khan’s campaign, however, has been somewhat undercut by his near-daily helicopter commute from his home in the hills surrounding Islamabad.
Critics say the cost-cutting so far has been mostly cosmetic. “There is nothing new in the current austerity drive,” said political commentator Raza Rumi.
Auctions of ageing government vehicles, for example, have taken place for years, with less publicity.
Nearly three-quarters of the 101 vehicles on offer on Monday were more than 10 years old. Two were 32-year-old Toyota Corollas.
And the total sales indicated little interest for the event’s showcase items – bullet-proof Mercedes estimated at about $1.5 million each.