Fuel cuts, grounded vehicles, 4-day office week among sweeping austerity measures to tackle looming energy challenges
A meeting of the Sindh Savings Committee on Thursday. — SCREEN GRAB
KARACHI:
The Sindh government has further tightened austerity measures in a bid to prepare for potential energy challenges, unveiling a series of cost-cutting and energy-saving measures aimed at reducing public spending while maintaining essential public services.
In this connection, an important meeting of the savings committee was held on Thursday, led by senior minister Sharjeel Inam Memon.
During the meeting, participants held detailed discussions on efficient use of energy, reduction of public expenditure and improvement of resource management without affecting the delivery of public services.
The committee decided to cut fuel allocations for government officials by 50%, while 60% of government vehicles will be grounded. However, this decision will not affect the operational vehicles, including police cars, ambulances, fire brigade vehicles and other essential service vehicles.
The senior minister of Sindh, Sharjeel Inaam Maiman, chaired the meeting, which was attended by the provincial ministers Saeed Ghani, Syed Nasir Hussain Shai, Linjar, Mukesh Chawlah and other relevant officials.
In the meeting, it was decided that the official officers will be provided with 50… pic.twitter.com/j7M3jeAYuY
— Sindh Information Department (@sindhinfodepart) March 12, 2026
The Secretary General has been empowered to ground government vehicles and has been tasked with submitting daily reports to the committee.
A formal proforma will also be prepared to record the registration numbers and details of the grounded vehicles. The committee made it clear that if a department violates these instructions, the vehicle in question may be impounded.
To ensure implementation, a monitoring committee consisting of the secretary for the general administration and the secretary has been set up. The committee will compile a comprehensive list of all grounded vehicles.
The meeting also reviewed the inspection and recovery of vehicles allocated to government projects, known as project vehicles. The committee members directed that details of all such vehicles be obtained and steps be taken to restore them at the earliest, with a report to be submitted.
In addition, it was decided that government offices should operate normally four days a week, while Fridays will be designated as working from home.
Also, all schools across the province will remain closed from March 16 to March 31, though exams will continue as per their scheduled schedule and will not be postponed.
Addressing the meeting, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the aim of these decisions is to reduce energy consumption without affecting public services and all departments must strictly implement the conservation measures.
Provincial Ministers Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Saeed Ghani, Ziaul Hassan Lanjar and Mukesh Kumar Chawla along with other relevant officials attended the meeting.
