Islamabad: In accordance with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s austerity plan, the Federal Cabinet has chosen to voluntarily give up their salaries, use of luxury vehicles, and allowances.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif made the announcement at a news conference following the Federal Cabinet meeting in Islamabad this evening. He claimed that the move will save 200 billion rupees and promote economic stability in the nation. According to him, all federal cabinet members have voluntarily given up their salaries, benefits, and privileges as part of the austerity plan. The Prime Minister stated that none of the cabinet members will drive luxury vehicles and that they will all be responsible for paying their own electricity, gas, and other utility bills. Giving security cars to any high official will be decided by a committee led by the interior minister.
He said import of luxury items and vehicles will be completed banned till June next year.
Giving further details of the austerity plan, the Prime Minister said no cabinet member or other high official will use five star hotels for stay during foreign tours.
He said all ministries, departments and divisions will cut 15 percent of their expenditures.
Shehbaz Sharif said online and video link meetings will be encouraged to avoid travel expenditures for this purpose.
He said offices will open at 7:30 in the morning during summer, to save electricity.
Under the austerity plan, there will be single dish rule for weddings and other gatherings.
The Prime Minister said government houses occupied by retired officers will be vacated and this land will be used for homeless people. He said government officers will not be given more than one plot.
The Federal Cabinet has also decided to make public the record of Toshakhana gifts.
The Prime Minister also announced to send a letter to the President on behalf of the federal cabinet that the office of the President has nothing to do with the announcement of date for elections in provinces.
Answering a question, the Prime Minister said Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari pays his expenditure from his own pocket.
Regarding a question about size of the federal cabinet, he said the coalition partners are seriously pondering upon this and a good news will come soon in this regard.
