ISLAMABAD: Amid reports of the government launching a comprehensive austerity drive, a fresh directive issued by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has asked the Foreign Office to reduce expenditure.
According to a report in JEE News today, the Prime Minister has directed the Ministry of External Affairs to reduce several foreign missions abroad and reduce their offices, staff and other measures by 15 percent.
An instruction issued by the Prime Minister’s Office said, “The Prime Minister is pleased to direct that a well-considered proposal/plan in this regard may be kindly forwarded to this office within two weeks.” to be presented.”
In view of the ongoing economic constraints and consequent need for fiscal consolidation and external deficit containment, the Prime Minister has constituted the National Austerity Committee (NAC), the official communication titled “Rationification of Mission Abroad” said. Expressed happiness at the formation.
The committee has recommended that expenditure on Pakistani missions abroad be reduced by 15 percent.
“This can be achieved by reducing the number of foreign missions, reducing the number of officers and staff posted there and other appropriate measures,” it added.
Austerity measures
Disappointment is growing among the political and technocratic members of the federal cabinet over the government’s non-implementation of the recommendations of the NAC, which was formed by the prime minister himself but has not yet been implemented.
Although Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in his mini-budget speech reiterated the government’s commitment to take austerity measures in the coming weeks from the Prime Minister, there was an impression that the government had taken all the drastic measures by increasing electricity, gas rates. Raised and imposed additional taxes of 170 billion rupees. There was no rush to cut waste.
For example, a federal minister uses 1000 liters of petrol on a monthly basis. He owns a luxury vehicle and three other official cars.
Another minister, showing austerity, wrote a letter to the government to return the vehicle and also made the letter public. But he did not disclose that he had used his ministry’s limit on petrol in just a few months of the current financial year.
There is another process in the Federal Secretariat as experts, specialists, and young fellows were being hired in the name of experts, without taking into account the actual needs and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).
Most of the bureaucrats are taking monetization of vehicles but also using government vehicles and petrol through different ends.
