ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that the savings generated through the government’s austerity measures will be used to provide relief to the public.
He stated thus while chairing a meeting in Islamabad to review the impact of petroleum product prices following the US-Iran war and the implementation of government cost-saving measures.
Federal ministers Attaullah Tarar, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ali Pervaiz Malik, and Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, along with the chairman of the Federal Board of Revenue, attended the meeting.
According to an official statement, the meeting discussed policy measures aimed at stabilizing petroleum prices as well as progress on implementing the government’s austerity plan.
Officials informed the meeting that the funds saved through these measures would be directed toward public relief amid the current economic conditions.
The meeting also decided that salaries of employees working in government-owned and autonomous institutions will be reduced by 5% to 30%. These gradual deductions will contribute to the relief package for the public.
Additionally, government representatives serving on the boards of corporations and other institutions will no longer receive meeting fees, and the saved funds will be added to the government’s savings pool.
However, the four-day workweek policy will not apply to law-enforcement agencies or the Federal Board of Revenue, whose employees will continue working under their existing schedules.
Prime Minister Sharif also directed all Pakistani embassies to observe Pakistan Day on March 23 with simplicity. He further announced a complete ban on foreign visits by government officials, including ministers, ministers of state, and special assistants.
