ISLAMABAD - The administration of Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) has purchased six vehicles for Rs 18.55 million for largely personal use of high-ups despite an imposed ban on purchase of all types of vehicles by the government as per austerity measures.
According to documents available with TheNation, the vehicles include Toyota Corolla, three AP Vans, Hino Bus and a Toyota Hilux Vigo for the personal use of Vice Chancellor Dr. Nazir Ahmed Sangi.
According to the information, the VC has already three Toyota Corolla cars in his use and a fourth luxury vehicle has been purchased spending Rs 3.12 million.
And another amount of more than Rs 50,000 has been released by the administration for the purchase of accessories of the vehicle to be used by the VC.
According to rules, a grade-21 officer is allowed to use a vehicle of 1300cc and even Vigo that the VC has purchased for himself is not in use of ministers that is quite expensive and its maintenance and fuel will cost heavy expenditure on national exchequer.  
The university has purchased Hino Bus for Rs 6.9 million for the Islamabad Campus.
Three AP Vans have been purchased for Rs. 6.92 million for Faisalabad, Larkana and Peshawar regional campuses. And a Toyota Corolla GLI has been purchased for the regional director of Karachi for Rs. 1.62 million. 
Initially, the audit department of the university had refused to approve a bill of Rs. 6.9 million for the purchase of three AP Vans and a Cultus Car citing the ban on vehicle purchase by the government but, later on, the University Auditor approved the purchase of vehicles along with Vigo.
As per austerity measures during the financial year 2011-12, the university along with all other ministries and divisions were directed by the Finance Division to enforce economic measures.
And the measures included ban on the purchase of physical assets including all types of vehicles, ban on recruitment, curtailment of expenditure by 20 per cent on travelling allowance, stationery, entertainment, advertisement, repair/maintenance and utilities and ban on use of air-conditioner before 11am, rationalization of utility bills and use of papers from both sides.
Vice Chancellor Dr. Sangi was contacted repeatedly and a message was also dropped on his cell phone (03008565590) but he did not respond.
Media Advisor of VC, Javed, instead of giving the administration’s version insisted to hold the story asking the reporter to visit the VC office and “We can talk over it while sitting together”.
While Director Public Relations of the university also could not be reached as his cell (03005393806) was off.