{
  "id": 11002764,
  "title": "Govt defends decision to buy 45 bulletproof vehicles for SCO moot, says available 2016 models 'far below' standards",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/govt-defends-decision-to-buy-45-bulletproof-vehicles-for-sco-moot-11002764",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-30T17:59:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2033788/govt-defends-decision-to-buy-45-bulletproof-vehicles-for-sco-moot-says-available-2016-models-far-below-standards"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "ISLAMABAD: The government defended its plan to buy 45 bulletproof vehicles for the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council of Heads of State meeting in Islamabad, stating that the need for maximum protection during the summit outweighs the age of the available 2016 models. The Cabinet Division released a statement addressing skepticism and unwarranted comments on the purchase, emphasizing the significance of the event and Pakistan's security paradigm. The Government approved a supplementary budget of over Rs6 billion for the purchase earlier this month. The SCO summit was described as a high-profile occasion, second only to the 1973 Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Summit, where heads of state, government, and international organizations were expected to participate. To ensure the safety and reliability of logistics, the government deemed it necessary to purchase bulletproof vehicles that meet the required standards. As of now, the latest bulletproof vehicles owned by the Cabinet Division were from 2016, which were deemed inadequate for the summit. The remaining 300 vehicles, which are non-bulletproof, will be rented. The government urged Pakistanis to take pride in the honor bestowed upon the nation and support the government's efforts to organize the event with the appropriate respect. Defense Minister Khawaja Asif shared the press release on his X account. The justification for the purchase came weeks after the government imposed austerity measures on September 17 to conserve fuel amid tensions in the Middle East, which also banned the purchase of vehicles of all types, excluding those for development projects.",
  "summary": "ISLAMABAD: The government on Wednesday justified its decision to purchase 45 bulletproof vehicles for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Council of Heads of State moot in Islamabad next year, stressing the need for ensuring “maximum possible level of protection” during the summit and citing Pakistan’s “security paradigm”. The justification came in a press release by the Cabinet…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Express Tribune - Pakistan",
        "title": "Govt defends purchase of 45 bulletproof vehicles for SCO summit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/govt-defends-purchase-of-45-bulletproof-vehicles-for-sco-summit",
        "published": "2026-09-30T11:05:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn - Pakistan",
        "title": "Govt defends buying 45 bulletproof vehicles for SCO summit, says available 2016 models 'far below' standards",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/govt-defends-buying-45-bulletproof-vehicles-for-sco-summit-says",
        "published": "2026-09-30T17:35:24.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}