Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has said that funds saved through austerity measures will be redirected to provide relief to the public.
An important meeting, chaired by the prime minister, reviewed the region’s situation, petroleum price stability, and government cost-saving initiatives. It was decided that money saved through austerity will be used for public welfare.
The meeting approved salary cuts of 5 to 30 percent for employees of government and autonomous institutions. Government representatives on corporate boards will no longer receive attendance fees, and all embassies have been instructed to observe Pakistan Day on March 23 with simplicity.
Prime Minister Sharif also directed the Federal Board of Revenue and law enforcement agencies to continue normal operations. A third-party audit will review plans to cut fuel usage by 50 percent and ground 60 percent of government vehicles over the next two months, while new vehicle purchases will be suspended.
Salaries of cabinet members, ministers, advisers, and special assistants will be allocated for public welfare. Foreign trips by officials have been banned, with online meetings prioritized to reduce expenses.
Relevant secretaries were instructed to monitor these austerity measures and submit daily reports. The meeting was attended by federal ministers Attaullah Tarar, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Bilal Azhar Khani, and the FBR chairman.