Govt Defends Purchase of 45 Bulletproof Cars

The Pakistani government has maintained its stance on the procurement of 45 bulletproof vehicles for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State Summit, emphasizing that the decision should not be subjected to political scrutiny. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif conveyed this in a statement from the Cabinet Division, asserting that the vehicles are being acquired for the SCO summit, scheduled to be hosted in Islamabad between August and September 2027.

Pakistan currently holds the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State, and the government proclaimed the summit as one of the nation's most consequential international gatherings, with heads of state, governments, and international organizations anticipated to participate.

The Cabinet Division elucidated that the security of visiting dignitaries necessitates transport solutions that comply with international security benchmarks. They further noted that the requirement for enhanced protection is especially critical given Pakistan's current security environment and threats emanating from external hostile entities.

The government articulated that the existing bulletproof vehicles in the Cabinet Division's inventory are of 2016 models and do not satisfy the requisite standards for the summit. Consequently, the acquisition of 45 bulletproof vehicles was deliberated upon through multiple channels prior to arriving at the final figure.

According to the statement, the selection of 45 vehicles was deemed the minimum necessary for the event. Additionally, the Cabinet Division indicated that the remaining 300 vehicles required for the summit would be sourced through rental rather than purchase. The government encouraged the public to perceive the summit as an avenue to enhance Pakistan's international standing and cautioned against trivializing or politicizing the event. The post "Govt Defends Purchase of 45 Bulletproof Cars" was originally published on ProPakistani.