Govt Defends Buying 45 Bulletproof Cars for SCO Summit 2027

The federal government has defended its plan to buy 45 new bulletproof vehicles for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit that Pakistan will host in Islamabad next year. In a statement shared by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, the Cabinet Division said the cars are needed to keep visiting world leaders safe, and asked people not to turn the matter into politics.

The SCO Council of Heads of State Summit is planned in Islamabad in August or September 2027. The Cabinet Division called it one of the most important international events Pakistan will host, with presidents, prime ministers and heads of global organisations expected to attend.

What the Government Said

According to the Cabinet Division, the security of foreign guests needs transport that meets international security standards. It said extra protection is especially important because of Pakistan's current security situation and threats from hostile foreign elements.

The division said the newest bulletproof cars it has right now are 2016 models. In its view, these old cars do not meet the standard needed for a summit of this level. It added that the number 45 was discussed at several forums before it was finalised, and that this is the minimum the event needs.

The statement also said that about 300 other vehicles needed for the summit will not be bought at all. They will be rented instead. The government urged the public to see the summit as a chance to raise Pakistan's name in the world, and said the event should not be made small or political.

From 30 Cars to 45

The debate started earlier this month. On September 7, 2026, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the federal cabinet, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, looked at a Cabinet Division request for Rs12.6 billion to buy bulletproof vehicles for the summit.

The ECC cut the amount by almost half. It approved Rs6.6 billion, about 23.8 million US dollars, for 30 vehicles. It told the Cabinet Division to do a detailed study of its real needs and come back if it wanted more money.

The Express Tribune reported that the Rs6.6 billion request was for 30 Mercedes Benz Maybach cars at about Rs220 million each. The Cabinet Division had also asked for Rs5.5 billion for 29 BMW vehicles and Rs476 million for six Toyota Land Cruiser LC300 vehicles. The paper said a committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar had decided that at least 65 vehicles needed to be imported, with delivery between May and July 2027. The division also asked for an exemption from customs duty, sales tax and federal excise duty.

The new statement now puts the final number at 45. So far, reports have not made clear the total cost of 45 cars, which models will be bought, or whether the ECC has cleared money for the 15 cars above the 30 it approved. It is also not public whether the tax exemption was granted.

Why So Many Cars Are Needed

Pakistan took over the rotating chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State from Kyrgyzstan at the Bishkek summit, held on August 31 and September 1, 2026. Pakistan's one year term ends with the Islamabad summit.

The SCO has 10 member countries: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Belarus. According to The Express Tribune, Pakistan expects to host nine heads of state, two observer states, 15 dialogue partners, up to four special guests and the heads of 11 international and regional bodies, including the UN Secretary General. Each top guest usually moves in a secure car, with more cars in the convoy.

The shortage of secure cars in the government pool is not new. In July 2026, the CPEC secretariat decided to buy its own Rs95 million bulletproof Land Cruiser for visiting Chinese nationals. It said cars from the Cabinet Division were often not available, which caused official meetings with foreign delegations to be delayed or even cancelled.

Old Controversies and New Questions

Bulletproof cars bought for foreign guests have caused trouble before. In 2016, the government imported 34 bulletproof vehicles from Germany for guests of a SAARC summit planned in Islamabad. That summit was postponed after several member countries pulled out, and it has not been held since. In 2019, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) investigated claims that some of these cars were used privately by politicians, and cars were recovered from senior political figures, including former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi.

The fact that Khawaja Asif shared this statement has also drawn attention. In June 2026, he told the National Assembly that the number of bulletproof vehicles in Pakistan had grown sharply. He asked the Interior Ministry to list who owns them and why, and pointed out that their special tyres must be changed every three months. Those remarks were about the VIP security culture at home, while the new purchase is meant for foreign guests.

What It Means for Pakistan

For ordinary people, the main question is cost. The earlier approval works out to about Rs220 million per car, at a time when the government is under pressure to control spending, pay off debt and clear energy sector dues. The full bill for 45 cars will only be known when official figures are released.

On the other hand, a safe summit matters a lot for Pakistan's image. When Islamabad hosted the lower level SCO Council of Heads of Government in October 2024, the government announced a three day holiday in the capital and put troops on the streets. A summit of heads of state is bigger, so the security demands will also be bigger.

If the Cabinet Division needs more money for the extra cars, the case is expected to go back to the ECC. The next things to watch are the final cost, the approval of funds, and what happens to these expensive vehicles after the summit ends in 2027.