Sindh slams the brakes on spending

KARACHI:

The Sindh government has further tightened austerity measures in a bid to prepare for potential energy challenges, unveiling a series of cost-cutting and energy-saving measures aimed at reducing government expenditure while maintaining essential public services.

In this regard, an important meeting of the Austerity Committee, chaired by Chief Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, was held on Thursday.

During the meeting, participants held detailed discussions on efficient use of energy, reducing government spending and improving resource management without affecting the delivery of public services.

The committee decided to cut fuel allowances for government officials by 50%, while 60% of government vehicles will be grounded. However, this decision will not affect operational vehicles, including police vehicles, ambulances, fire brigade vehicles and other essential service vehicles.

The general administration secretary has been authorized to ground government vehicles and has been ordered to submit daily reports to the committee.

A formal form will also be prepared to record the registration numbers and details of the immobilized vehicles. The committee made it clear that if any department violates these instructions, the vehicle in question can be detained.

To ensure implementation, a monitoring committee comprising general administration secretary and excise secretary has been set up. The committee will compile a complete list of all immobilized vehicles.

The meeting also reviewed the scrutiny and recovery of vehicles assigned to government projects, known as project vehicles. The committee members directed that details of all such vehicles be obtained and steps be taken to recover them at the earliest, and a report submitted.

Additionally, it was decided that government offices would operate normally four days a week, while Fridays will be designated as work from home.

In addition, all schools in the province will remain closed from March 16 to 31, although exams will continue as scheduled and will not be postponed.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the objective of these decisions is to reduce power consumption without affecting public services, and all departments must strictly implement the austerity measures.

The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Saeed Ghani, Ziaul Hassan Lanjar and Mukesh Kumar Chawla, along with other relevant officials.