Considering how quick and savage Twitter can be these days in twisting anything that people say into memes and jokes, you’d think politicians would watch what they put out there. But nope. This time, it isn’t the POTUS or any of our Indian netas, but a minister from Pakistan, who’s found himself in a helicopter-storm of trolls!
Freshly minted Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had promised austerity when he took up office. So when people realised he was making his daily work commute from home to his official residence in a helicopter, people were a little confused.
Pakistan PM Khan has been making the 15km journey from his private home to his official residence by helicopter.
This as he’s pushing austerity measures and asking bureaucrats and politicians to tighten their belts. https://t.co/8iSi7tE4jT
— Natasha Fatah (@NatashaFatah) August 31, 2018
In his defense, Khan explained that he was indeed opting for the copter to avoid public nuisance that might arise from his security detail.
“I use helicopter to not create nuisance for public. Many reports have warned me that my life is in danger, if there was no security concern, I will be travelling like a conman man”, said @ImranKhanPTI
— Fe'reeha@ abbtakk (@Fereeha) August 31, 2018
PM wants that no traffic shud be stopped on roads when he travels and people shud not be troubled. He also wants that expenditure incurred on security arrangements by posting hundreds of policemen on a route and large number of vehicles shud be curtailed.
— Naeem ul Haque (@naeemul_haque) August 30, 2018
It kind of makes sense, if you think of those massive convoys that politicians have tailing them, which tend to cause major disturbance for other people. Not to mention, the fuel et al costs of all those cars! But hey, what do we know about that, right?
It was all just a healthy debate until Pak’s Information & Broadcast Minister Fawad Chaudry claimed that PM Imran Khan’s helicopter commute was ‘cheaper’ because the fuel cost per ride was a mere Rs. 55/km!
The Minister further added that he had a very reliable source to back his claims—Google.
And that’s when all memes broke loose!
The common folk of Pakistan did the math and realised that a helicopter ride isn’t just cheaper for the PM, but could also be very economical for their daily commute!
Move over Uber and Careem (a Dubai-based cab service available in Pakistan)! Helicopters are waaaaaay cheaper! Plus, I doubt there would be surge pricing in those, right?
#helicopter
So now helicopter is cheaper then careem and uber then govt should start helicopter service for all peoples so they can save more money— Sadia Shaukat (@SadiaShaukat10) August 28, 2018
Turns out, it is true! The math doesn’t lie, janaab!
Bani Gala to PM House :
✅ Helicopter 🚁 Rs 294
❌ Uber 🚕 Rs 411 pic.twitter.com/ZT5Pbpzple— Majid Agha (@Majid_Agha) August 28, 2018
Here’s some more calculations!
So let's do quick maths.
Aviation gasoline=5$ per gallon apox.= 615 PKR
Distance in one gallon =7.19 miles = 11.57 KM
Cost for 1KM=53
Cost for 3KM=159 PKR#helicopter pic.twitter.com/ARGIzq1eM7— Talha Ubaid (@mtalhaubaid) August 28, 2018
Someone tried to explain the costs of a chartered helicopter.
But they were contradicted by people claiming that since the government owned those helicopters, the only charge that mattered was the fuel. And therefore, it was cheaper.
https://twitter.com/LazloPlazlo/status/1034500321802956800
Let’s thing bigger than helicopters!
Khan sahb helicopter choro….Be shak F16 nikal lo. Lekin koi chor bach k ni jana chahiyay….
😍#helicopter— Muhammad Kashif Zaman (@WattooKingG) August 31, 2018
Trolls were trying to picture what exactly was the helicopter that the PM was using to have turned out so cheap. The results were hilarious!
Imran Khan must be using this #helicopter because only this helicopter can cost 55/Rs fule in 8 Km.
jitni petrol prices hain un main to 55 rupay k petrol say Honda 125 b 8/Km nhi clalta 😜 pic.twitter.com/MUgHbWBJSc— Sohaib Ahmed (@WIFAN1) August 30, 2018
#helicopter #pakistan #55rs #PTI pic.twitter.com/oJQ00gIhh0
— kazi Shahbaz (@kazishahbaz) August 30, 2018
Turns out, there are cheaper alternatives!
Here comes the cheapest #helicopter just 10 Rupees per km pic.twitter.com/Qcr5PetdQJ
— 𝗔𝘀𝗮𝗱 – اسد 🚴♂️ (@AsadJan80) August 29, 2018
There was even a new business model suggested!
https://twitter.com/romaancekhan/status/1034498987372503040
How about this swanky ride though?
That Rs 55 per Km #Helicopter is expensive AF, @ImranKhanPTI must get this dude aboard, give him #Transport ministry or something and use this for 70 km in one litre.#CD70 #MadniTyara #Pakistan #PTI #ImranKhan #Heli #Banigala pic.twitter.com/ildHuGjrLM
— Dr Faraz Chaudry (@iDrFaraz) August 28, 2018
The economy of this whole idea gave people some crazy ideas about switching their rides.
I am thinking of disposing family’s old Corolla and getting a cheaper, more reliable form of transport. Can’t decide if I should get a Suzuki or a Helicopter. #nayamaths
— Miftah Ismail (@MiftahIsmail) August 28, 2018
Soch raha hu #Pakistan chala jau Kam se Kam 55 Rupaye me #helicopter ka Safar to kar paung ..
😂😎🤔#PTI #SorryNotSorry— TAUSEEF (@TauseefMtk) August 30, 2018
The new helicopter travel plan painted a rather… umm… interesting picture of a new Pakistan!
New Pakistan :p Rs 55 per km @fawadchaudhry #TabdeeliAgaee #FakeTabdeeli pic.twitter.com/BE4dBWZx07
— ABDUL KARIM ODHEJO (@AbdulKarimPPP) August 28, 2018
پنجاواں دا پا دے#Helicopter pic.twitter.com/w2BOVqZ7rd
— . (@EmranMalik_) August 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/FarhanIjaz87/status/1035081260236988416
So hilarious was this entire idea that even Careem Pakistan couldn’t help but jump in on the troll-wagon! They tweeted a screenshot of their app, which showed a helicopter option under testing!
Have you guys tried our new addition? pic.twitter.com/Izj1v5gGOL
— Careem Pakistan (@CareemPAK) August 28, 2018
LOL!
Jokes aside, the final takeaway from the entire debate was that it was probably useless. As this gentleman here tried to make sense of it….
An ill advised and ill informed debate going on in the media about PMs helicopter expenses. The fact of the matter is that the helicopter is used used only twice in a week. On Friday evening when he moves to Bani Gala and on Monday morning when he moves back.
— Naeem ul Haque (@naeemul_haque) August 30, 2018
Now we do not know what the actual deal here is, but it sure as hell was a hilarious ride for us with the memes and jokes! Best part? It cost nothing!