PM Shehbaz Sharif Announces Major Austerity Measures
The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by the prime minister to review the impact of petroleum prices and the implementation of government cost-cutting measures.
During the meeting, it was decided that government representatives serving on the boards of corporations and other institutions will no longer receive board meeting fees, and the saved amount will be included in the government’s overall savings.
The government has also decided to reduce the petrol quota for official vehicles by 50 percent for the next two months. Additionally, a third-party audit will be conducted to verify the decision to ground 60 percent of government vehicles.
However, these restrictions will not apply to law enforcement agencies and the Federal Board of Revenue due to operational requirements.
The salaries of cabinet members, ministers, advisers, and special assistants for the next two months will be allocated for public welfare initiatives. Furthermore, a complete ban has been imposed on foreign visits by ministers and government officials, with instructions to prioritize meetings through teleconferencing.