Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday announced a slew of austerity measures to cut the government's costs amid a worsening economic situation. He said new measures would save Rs 200 billion annually
Addressing a press conference, Sharif said that his special advisers and all ministers had decided to forego their salaries. He said ministers would now pay their own telephone, electricity, water, and gas bills
Pakistan PM Sharif also announced that all luxury cars being used by the cabinet members will be auctioned. Where needed, he said, ministers will be provided only one car for security
All the federal ministers would now travel in the economy class when undertaking domestic travel or going abroad, the prime minister announced. He said that support staff would no longer be allowed to go on state visits
Under Pakistan's new austerity measures, the cabinet members would not stay in five-star hotels during foreign trips. And the current expenditure of ministries and departments would be reduced by 15 pc
Pakistan has also decided to open offices at 7:30 am during the summer to conserve gas and electricity. The country is running short on forex reserves and it can't afford to buy oil
As per the new measures, there will only be one dish in all the ministries in Islamabad, the PM's House, and the federal cabinet. If it is tea time, then only tea and biscuits will be provided
The Pakistan PM said there were British-era govt houses on several acres where police officers and ministers were residing while hundreds of thousands were homeless. Now, the govt employees would not be allotted more than one plot
Pakistan may also cap discretionary grants, and secret service funds of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Intelligence Bureau (IB). The cash-strapped nation has reportedly cut food supply in the army mess