PM forms committee to ensure implementation of austerity policy

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday constituted a seven-member committee of ministers to ensure the implementation of the austerity policy, ARY News reported.

A notification was also issued in this connection.

The committee includes Minister for Finance and Revenue Ishaq Dar, Minister for Education Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister for Information and Technology and Telecommunication, Syed Ameen ul Haque, Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarrar, Minister for National Food Security and Research Tariq Bashir Cheema, PM’s advisor on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan Qamar Zaman Kaira and Minister of State for Power Division Hashim Notezai.

The committee would review the implementation of the decisions taken during the federal cabinet meeting of February 22, the notification read.

The committee will meet after every two months to review progress made on the policy devised to cut down expenditures in view of fragile economic situation of the country.

Last Wednesday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, had unveiled a massive austerity drive at the Federal Government level to slash expenditures while eyeing an ambitious plan to save 200 billion rupees annually.

The government under its austerity plan has announced working hours in offices from 7:30 in the morning to cut expenses and conserve electricity, ARY News reported on Sunday.

The federal cabinet’s all members have opted to work voluntarily without salaries and other official perks to save 200 billion rupees in a year under the prime minister’s austerity plan.

The government has also announced to return back luxury vehicles given to all cabinet members. The cabinet has also banned its members stay in five-star hotels during their overseas visits.

It is worth mentioning here that the Prime Minister had issued direction to his Cabinet for reducing non-developmental expenses to minimize burden on the national exchequer.