Pakistan has introduced austerity measures which include reduction in the number of ministries and slashes foreign visits of the President, the Prime Minister and ministers, two ministers said Wednesday.
Giving details at a joint news conference, Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin and Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said the Ministries would reduce expenditure on foreign visits by 30 percent and expenditure on visits
of Ministers, Prime Ministers and the President would be reduced by 40 percent.
Entertainment expenditure would also be reduced by 30 percent and one dish will be served at all government lunches and dinners.
Expenses in public offices would be curtailed to set an example for others to follow, utilities of the President and the Prime Minister would be capped after imposing a 25 percent cut.
Commercial flights would be used instead of chartered planes. A chartered company may be established to own the Government owned planes and helicopters and these may be operated on semi- commercial basis. No one will perform Hajj at official expenses.
Telephone ceiling on all official telephone connection is revisited and the pay and pension committee shall look into the details of this proposal.
All VIP lounges are being abolished and VIP wards at hospitals are eliminated from public hospitals.
Federal Ministers may use up to 1,800 CC cars while provincial ministers may use vehicles up to 1,600 cc.
As part of the efforts to conserve energy, every alternate street light may be kept switched off from dusk to dawn. Line losses of the power
companies would be reduced and self-regulating gas heaters may replace the existing geysers. Solar water heaters would also be introduced.
Entourage of the President and the Prime Minister would be restricted to seven vehicles while that of the Governors and Chief Ministers to six.