Lahore: The Punjab government has announced the implementation of several austerity measures to improve financial discipline in the province and reduce government expenditure.
In this regard, a notification issued by the Cabinet Division has stated that a comprehensive austerity policy has been introduced on the instructions of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, under which steps will be taken to reduce expenditure in various government departments.
According to the notification, the fuel quota for vehicles provided to government officials has been reduced by fifty percent so that the use of government resources can be limited.
In addition, the use of additional protocol vehicles with provincial ministers and senior officers has also been banned, while it has been decided to reduce the number of security vehicles.
The government has also issued instructions to maintain the ban on the purchase of new government vehicles until June 2026 so that government expenses can be further reduced.
The working hours of government offices have also been significantly changed. According to the notification, government offices across Punjab will remain open four days a week from Monday to Thursday, while Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be holidays.
However, the government has clarified that institutions providing essential services have been exempted from this decision so that the provision of basic facilities to the public is not affected.
The notification further states that the work-from-home policy will be promoted in government departments and non-essential meetings will be encouraged to be held online.
Along with this, it has also been ordered to limit the travel expenses and accommodation expenses of government officials so that the objectives of the austerity policy can be achieved.
The Punjab government has also advised the private sector to adopt a work-from-home policy and avoid unnecessary events. The public has also been appealed to limit unnecessary gatherings and events.
In addition, a complete ban has been imposed on organizing dinners at the official level, while prior permission has been made mandatory for organizing seminars, conferences and training programs.
Committees have been formed at the district level to monitor the supply of petroleum products and a track and trace system has been introduced to enable complete monitoring of fuel delivery and consumption.
The government has also issued instructions to strictly monitor transport fares in all districts and ensure the supply of essential items.
