Punjab govt red-faced as its cheque issued to copter insurance company bounced

The Punjab government was left red-faced when its cheque given in payment for the insurance of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar’s official helicopter to an international insurance company got bounced, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Tuesday. 

Reportedly, the Punjab government issued a cheque amounting to Rs20.67 million to an international insurance company, MS National Insurance Company, for the payment of Chief Minister Usman Buzdar’s official helicopter’s insurance. But to the utter chagrin of the provincial government, the cheque got bounced.

Sources revealed that the insurance company returned the bill to the provincial government and expressed its strong reservations. 

The company said the provincial government gave it two cheques for the annual payment of the helicopter’s insurance. But the bill given by the Punjab government for the last year’s invoice amounting to Rs20.67 million could not be cleared at the end of this financial year by the State Bank of Pakistan. 

Punjab additional chief secretary sent a notification regarding the arrears of the insurance company to the government requesting it to provide a supplementary grant of Rs20.67 million for the payment of insurance company’s premium. 

Sources said that the total expenditure for the insurance of helicopter which is under the use of Punjab government are near Rs60.20 million. 

Reporter Ali Ramay