Balochistan cabinet decided to ensure implementation of additional austerity drive

QUETTA, Mar 11 (APP): Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti on Wednesday chaired a meeting of provincial cabinet on austerity.

 In the meeting, important decisions were taken to reduce government expenditure and save fuel in the context of the current global and regional situation.

The meeting decided that the Balochistan government would immediately ensure the implementation of the additional austerity campaign so that financial resources could be used effectively.

The meeting was informed that the government is taking several practical steps under the additional austerity campaign to reduce government expenditure and save fuel.

In the cabinet meeting, it was decided that all provincial ministers, advisors and parliamentary secretaries would take two will not take a month’s salary,

while a voluntary 25 percent cut would be made in the salaries of all members of the provincial assembly.

Similarly, government officers in grade 20 and above whose salary is more than three hundred thousand rupees would also voluntarily give two days’ salary to the government.

However, government employees serving in the health and education sectors have been exempted from this cut.

The cabinet also decided to introduce new rules regarding official meetings and events.

It was decided in the meeting that all future official meetings would be held mostly through video link or online method so that unnecessary travel and expenses can be avoided; along with this, no official dinners would be allowed except for foreign delegations.

It will be mandatory to obtain prior permission from the relevant departments for organizing seminars and training programs and they could be held only in government buildings or auditoriums.

The meeting also decided to change the timings and procedures of government offices. According to the cabinet, government offices in the province would work four days a week; however, institutions providing banking and other essential services would be exempted from this.

Fifty percent of the staff in government offices would work from home on a rotating basis. The government has also advised the private sector to consider having half of its staff work from home and adopting a four-day office week.

The cabinet also took an important decision regarding educational institutions and announced spring holidays in all schools, colleges and universities in the province until March 23, 2026.

However, it was clarified that the exams would be held as per their pre-determined schedule and holidays could not apply to them.

The meeting also set some guidelines regarding social events and public activities, under which the number of guests at wedding ceremonies would be limited to a maximum of 200 people and only one dish could be allowed to be served.

Similarly, the speed of vehicles on highways has been directed to be kept between 65 and 80 kilometers per hour so that fuel consumption could be kept to a minimum.

While addressing the cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti said that the austerity campaign has been started from the Chief Minister Secretariat, where about eight hundred posts have been eliminated so that a significant reduction in government expenditure could be brought about.

He said that the government is setting an example and taking steps to reduce expenditure and this step would enable resources to be spent more effectively on public welfare.

The Chief Minister also urged all government institutions and the public to cooperate fully with the government to conserve energy and resources.

Speaking in the meeting, Governor Balochistan Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhel termed the austerity measures taken by the provincial government as commendable and said that in the current economic conditions, there is a dire need for careful and responsible use of resources.

He said that this initiative of Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfraz Bugti and the provincial cabinet sets a positive example which would ensure reduction in government expenditure and better utilization of national resources.

The Governor of Balochistan hoped that with this decision, other institutions and the public would also play their role in promoting austerity and collectively help in stabilizing the economy.