Vehicles grounded, overseas travel suspended and staff moved online as government expands cost-cutting drive
ISLAMABAD:
Following the directives of National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, the National Assembly Secretariat on Wednesday introduced austerity measures in line with the ongoing cost-cutting drive due to the Middle East conflict.
Under the new measures, 70% of government vehicles will remain out of service, while members of the National Assembly will face a 25% reduction in salaries and benefits over the next two months. Foreign travel by parliamentary delegations has been completely suspended.
Senior officials, including those in grade 20 or earning a monthly salary of Rs 300,000 or more, will be required to contribute two days’ salary to the national treasury.
All non-essential procurement at the Secretariat has been suspended and purchases have been limited to essential daily needs. National Assembly and committee meetings will now be scheduled before sunset.
80 per cent of Secretariat staff will work virtually from home and no additional subsidies will be provided to staff working from home to enforce austerity. Standing committee meetings will be held online and the National Assembly will operate during a four-day work week.
Read: The Government declares a holiday on Friday to save energy
The policy also limits committee meetings, reduces electricity use by 70% and requires turning off non-essential lights and electrical equipment. The cafeteria’s utility bills are expected to see a 70% reduction.
To further reduce traditional spending, the Secretariat will adopt paperless work practices. Officials say the measures aim to promote efficiency while ensuring responsible use of public funds.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday announced a four-day work week and a work-from-home policy as part of sweeping austerity measures in light of fuel shortages caused by the crisis in the Middle East following the US and Israeli attacks on Iran.
The prime minister said cabinet members, including ministers, advisers and special assistants, would not draw salaries for two months, while salaries of members of parliament would be cut by 25%.
“Expenses of all government departments, apart from salaries, will be reduced by 20%,” he added.
Chief Minister Shehbaz said that senior government officials of grade 20 and above, earning more than Rs 300,000 a month, would have two days’ salary deducted, which would be used to provide relief to the public.
The government sharply increased diesel and gasoline prices by 55 rupees per liter, or 20%, on Friday, marking the first of a series of similar increases expected in the coming days due to the ongoing conflict.
The increase in gasoline prices was greater than the increase in international markets, as the government decided to raise more money than necessary from motorcyclists and car owners to subsidize the use of diesel, mainly in the public transport and agriculture sectors.
