TIL Desk/World/Davos/ Terming his participation in the recently held World Economic Forum (WEF) as the “cheapest” official visit, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan disclosed that his trip was sponsored by two of his friends and well-known businessmen Ikram Sehgal and Imran Chaudhry, it was reported on Saturday. Addressing the ”Breakfast at Davos”, an event jointly organised by Pathfinder Group and Martin Dow Group on Thursday, Khan said his trip cost 10 times less than those of the previous leaders.
He recalled that his trip to the UN General Assembly last November was the least costly with $160,000 as compared to former President Asif Zardari”s $1.4 million expenditure, former premier Nawaz Sharif”s $1.3 million and even $800,000 of former Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. Thanking Sehgal, a retired military officer and chairman of the Pathfinder Group, Khan said: “He is instrumental in getting me here.
Otherwise,
I would not have burdened my government to pay a sum of $450,000 for two
nights.” It is perhaps the first time that the expenses of a Prime
Minister”s official travel have been covered by private citizens or
businessmen. Reiterating that this was an “austerity programme”, Khan
said the government should rely on the over nine million Pakistanis residing
overseas.
