ISLAMABAD: Prime minister-in-waiting Imran Khan’s decision to live in asmaller, simpler residence and not in the official Prime Minister’s Housewill save the exorbitant amount of Pakistani Rs1.85 billion spent annuallyon the PM House.

According to a report by *Gulf News,link*itwill also send a positive message to the masses that their prime ministeris not wasting public money on a life of luxuries and protocol.

Khan has, in a number of interviews and press conferences, made it clearthat he will neither stay in the PM House nor enjoy VVIP protocol afterassuming office.

The cricketer-turned-politician has also vowed to ensure that his ministersand provincial chief ministers, where his party is in power, also followprinciples austerity.

Pakistan’s PM House, though a relatively new building inaugurated by theformer deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif only two decades ago when he waselected for a second term, is located on the main Constitution Avenue,covering an area of 135 acres, and luxuriously appointed.

The red-brick, heavily guarded building is modelled after the Mughal erapalaces that housed royalty. The PM House features five spacious lawns, afruit orchard, a number of swimming pools, a banquet hall, media andcommittee rooms. There are also 10 servants quarters, residences forsecurity officers, staff and members of the Public & Works Department andpolice.

Inside the PM House, around 50 protocol officers work in their offices.

The security budget of the complex is around Rs980 million, while Rs700million are allocated for PM House staff. Similarly, Rs150 million is spentannually on gifts for visiting dignitaries and guests, and Rs15 million onrenovation and decoration.

According to the PTI leadership, four universities equalling the area ofPakistan’s top varsity — Quaid-e-Azam University (spread over 35 acres inthe capital) — can be set up in the PM House.

Khan has, instead, indicated that he will utilise the PM House land forpublicly beneficial purposes, such as education or health.

The PTI leader, in his post-election victory speech, had stated hisintention to set up house in the Minister’s Enclave rather than PM House.Later, it was also suggested that he should opt for the Speaker’s Houseinstead of Minister’s Enclave.