Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif calls on President Asif Ali Zardari for Aiwan-e-Sadr. PHOTO: PID
ISLAMABAD:
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday extended nationwide austerity and fuel-saving measures until June 13 as the government continues to manage economic pressure caused by the conflict in the Middle East and rising global oil prices.
According to a Cabinet Division announcement, the extension was approved following recommendations from the committee that oversees fuel conservation and implementation of austerity measures, which was first introduced on March 9 after the US-Israeli attacks on Iran led to disruptions in global oil supplies.
Under the expanded plan, fuel quotas for official vehicles will remain reduced by 50%, while 60% of government vehicles will remain off the roads. Commercial vehicles, including ambulances and public buses, are exempt from the restrictions.
The government also maintained a ban on foreign visits by ministers and officials, except for trips deemed essential to national interests. Previous measures, including a four-day working week for government offices from Monday to Thursday, will continue.
The austerity plan also includes a 25% pay cut for parliamentarians, while employees of state-owned enterprises and state-supervised institutions face reductions of between 5 and 30%. Government departments have also been asked to cut non-essential spending by 20%
Up to 50% of government employees are also allowed to work from home on alternate days, except in essential services, while civil servants have been instructed to travel economy class and prefer virtual meetings to physical ones to cut costs.
The Prime Minister has tasked the intelligence agency with carrying out a third-party audit to ensure compliance with the measures. Meanwhile, targeted emergency aid, including fuel subsidies for motorcyclists, farmers and transporters, has also been extended to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices.
The chairman calls for action
President Asif Ali Zardari directed the use of all possible measures to reduce the impact of inflation on the people in a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
A statement from the presidency said the two held a meeting at Aiwan-e-Sadr with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and others present.
“The President directed possible measures to reduce inflationary pressure, ensure availability of essential commodities and provide relief to the common man,” the statement said.
The President said that despite the difficult geographical and regional situation, tensions in the Middle East and disruption of the supply chain, maximum relief should be provided to the people.
The statement said the overall situation of the country, issues related to Afghanistan and the changing situation in the region were also discussed in the meeting.
The meeting participants further paid tribute to the martyrs of last year’s May conflict against India and the professional capabilities of the armed forces while reiterating “unwavering commitment to national defence”.
The directives came in the wake of the government on Friday raising the prices of both petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD) by Rs15 amid fluctuations in global oil prices due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. It was the second increase in fuel prices in May.
The sharp rise in oil prices has sparked a new wave of economic anxiety in Pakistan, with carriers raising fares, companies warning of rising operating costs and ordinary citizens bracing for another inflationary shock in an economy already under severe pressure.
(WITH INPUT FROM NEWS DESK)
