Prime Minister enforces austerity, halves fuel allocation for official vehicles

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved additional austerity measures due to the war situation, according to a media report.

The austerity measures will apply to all ministries, departments, and autonomous bodies. The austerity measures will be applied equally to all defense organizations, the judiciary, and the parliament.

The report added that the fuel supply to all government vehicles will be reduced by 50 percent for the next 2 months. However, the fuel shortage will not be for operational vehicles like government buses, ambulances, and motorbikes, etc.

The fuel shortage is expected to save Rs 4.5 billion at the federal level. 60 percent of government vehicles of the federal and provincial governments will be grounded for 2 months, and all ministers, advisors, and deputies of the federal and provincial cabinets will voluntarily give up 2 months of salary and allowances.

It has been decided to take a 20% voluntary cut in the salaries and allowances of all members of the national and provincial assemblies for 2 months, while 2 days’ salary will be deducted for government officials in grade 20 and above with a salary of more than Rs 300,000 in all federal and provincial departments.

There will be a 20% cut in the non-developmental budget of all federal and provincial departments for the fourth quarter of the financial year, and the budget cut is expected to save Rs 22 billion at the federal level.

According to the report, a complete ban has been imposed on the purchase of all types of new vehicles until June 2026.

PM Shehbaz Address

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will take the nation into confidence regarding the current situation, and his address to the nation will be broadcast shortly.

50% reduction in fuel supply to government vehicles for the next 2 months, all ministers, advisors, and deputies of the federal and provincial cabinets will voluntarily forgo 2 months’ salary and allowances.

Punjab School Holidays

Earlier, the Punjab and Balochistan governments had declared school holidays through their Monday announcement, which cites extraordinary economic challenges that resulted from the latest regional conflicts.

The Punjab government has declared that all educational institutions will remain closed from March 10 until March 31. The Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz, stated through a public announcement that schools will conduct scheduled exams while educational institutions will provide online classes.

The Chief Minister has ordered an immediate suspension of government fuel distribution to provincial ministers until the petroleum crisis concludes.

The government has instituted a 50 percent cutback on petrol and diesel allowances, which officials will receive for their vehicle use. The government has enacted a prohibition against the use of protocol vehicles that would normally accompany provincial ministers and high-ranking government officials throughout the nation.

The statement explained that only one vehicle will be used to escort provincial ministers and high-ranking government officials for necessary security purposes.

Balochistan School Holidays

The Balochistan Education Department (Schools) has ordered an immediate shutdown of all public and private schools throughout the province.

The notification stated that all educational institutions within the province will remain closed from March 9 to March 23. The authorities made this decision because of the current regional situation, which requires them to prepare for possible emergency situations.