Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz did carry Hermès bag during Umrah trip

The iVerify Pakistan team investigated this content and determined that it is true.

To reach this conclusion, iVerify Pakistan conducted a reverse image and a keyword search to compare the beg held by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz with those online.

Posts from multiple users on social media platform X since March 19, 2025, circulated images of CM Maryam from Jati Umra before setting out for her recent Umrah trip, claiming she was carrying a Hermès bag worth tens of millions in Pakistani rupees. An investigation and comparison with the brand’s bags confirmed that the bag she was carrying was indeed from Hermès.

CM Maryam Nawaz left for Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah along with her uncle, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on March 19.

The Punjab CM’s affluent fashion choices have consistently been in the spotlight, often drawing scrutiny due to past corruption allegations against the Sharif family and the stark contrast with the country’s declining economy.

HOW IT STARTED

On March 19, an X user, who appeared to be a PTI supporter based on their past posts, shared a photo of CM Maryam in an abaya as she left for the foreign trip. She was also seen carrying a brown bag in the photo.

It was captioned: “Maryam Nawaz’s bag is a Birkin bag from Hermès. Hermès is a French luxury brand known for its high-quality leather bags, especially the Birkin and Kelly bags. The price of this bag is $50,000, which is Rs139,000 million in Pakistani currency. This bag has been purchased with corruption money.”

The post has been viewed over 71,000 times and shared 1,000 times.

Similar claims were shared here, here, here, here, here and here.

METHODOLOGY

A fact-check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to its virality and the public’s keen interest in CM Maryam’s lifestyle.

A reverse image search to corroborate the image’s authenticity yielded a March 19 post from CM Maryam’s Facebook account with the following caption: “Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif departs from Jati Umra for Umrah.”

A review of Hermès’ website to check for any bag that resembled the one CM Maryam was carrying yielded no results. However, a reverse image search led to a link to Sotheby’s website, a renowned British multinational corporation which brokers fine decorative art, jewellery and collectables.

Carrying a variety of Birkin and Kelly bag models by Hermes, the website also offered pictures from every angle and other details of a make called Etoupe Togo Kelly 25 Gold Hardware, 2024, priced at $28,000 which converts to Rs7.8 million.

Comparing the bag with the one carried by CM Maryam showed that their shape, colour, and size were the same.

However, the bag CM Maryam was carrying was seen to be open, with a golden clasp in front of it to close the bag. A YouTube search was conducted for unboxing videos of the Hermes Kelly 25 to confirm the clasp’s design.

A video that showed how the bag looks open and closed, also displayed the inner golden clasp of the bag as seen in Maryam’s picture, confirming that the chief minister was indeed carrying a Hermès bag — albeit it was not a Birkin, but a Kelly.

While the exact price of the bag was not available due to it not being present on Hermès website and fluctuations in its cost, US-based Madison Avenue Couture — which describes itself as “America’s largest and most trusted online independent retailer of new, store-fresh Hermès handbags” — listed the price as $29,500, or Rs8.2m.

FACT-CHECK STATUS: TRUE

The claim that a picture showed Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz carrying a Hermes bag with her on her Umrah trip is true.

A reverse image search and thorough comparison of the bag confirmed that CM Maryam was carrying a Hermès Kelly bag.