Rs20-30 billion is spent annually on government vehicles despite 50 percent cuts
LAHORE:
Despite repeated austerity by the Punjab government, including a 50% cut in fuel expenditure and the parking of unnecessary official vehicles, public skepticism remains.
Citizens are questioning why large numbers of green number plate vehicles are still seen on highways, outside offices and across cities if spending is really being reduced.
Estimates from official and financial sources suggest that thousands of government vehicles are still in operation across Punjab. These are used by district administrations, police, health, education, provincial secretariat, development authorities and autonomous institutions. Maintaining this fleet costs billions annually, including fuel, maintenance, drivers, tires and overall upkeep.
Official estimates put annual fuel and maintenance costs at Rs20-30 billion, although some reports suggest Rs50 million, data inconsistencies show. Under the austerity policy, the government announced a 50% cut in fuel quotas, curbs on non-essential use of vehicles and a freeze on new purchases, claiming potential savings of Rs5-10 billion annually, although results are yet to be seen on the ground.
Public opinion reflects a gap between policy and practice. A retired senior bureaucrat, who spoke anonymously, believed the system reflects a long-standing culture of privilege, with some officials using multiple vehicles.
“Real reform needs GPS tracking, digital logbooks, fuel audits and strict accountability as policy announcements alone are not enough without monitoring. In many countries, senior officials have limited transportation, unlike Pakistan where multiple vehicles are often assigned to a single post,” the citizen shared.
Financial expert Dr. Qais Aslam believed that significant savings could be achieved through centralized vehicle use, shared transport pools, fewer official visits and increased use of virtual meetings. “Such measures could save billions annually instead of just millions,” noted Dr. Aslam.
Read more: Police ordered to reduce fuel consumption by 33% during austerity measures
Government circles are demanding transparency, including disclosure of the total number of service vehicles, how many have been parked, departmental savings on fuel and which institutions continue to spend high amounts. Currently, no single document provides consolidated figures as vehicles are registered separately across departments.
The government has directed that 50% of the vehicles must be assembled and has stopped the purchase of around 300 to 400 new vehicles. However, details of the implementation have not been made public. While there were some reductions in the secretariat offices and during periods of work from home, vehicles in operational departments such as police, health, engineering and district administration have largely remained active.
The Punjab Cabinet also approved only 10 new vehicles instead of the proposed 108, presenting this as an austerity measure. However, the continued visibility of official vehicles has raised doubts about the actual extent of reductions.
Under the Motor Transport Policy 2026, vehicle and fuel entitlements for senior officials have been defined. The Chief Secretary and Inspector General of Police are allowed to have three vehicles, while officers in classes 21 and 22 are allowed to use two vehicles with fuel allowance for personal and official use. Grade 19 and 20 officers are entitled to 1600cc vehicles with 250 liters of fuel and Grade 17 officers to 1500cc vehicles with 175 liters per month.
As departments have separate budgets, a total expenditure figure is rarely issued. However, with thousands of vehicles in use, the total cost of fuel, maintenance, personnel, insurance and replacement remains significant.
Observers say there is a clear gap between official directives and reality. If the austerity measures are not applied equally, especially to senior officials and ministers, public confidence will continue to decline. Effective reform will require strict monitoring, transparency and accountability.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Assembly has reported savings of over Rs770 million under its austerity measures, although wider provincial results remain unclear.
