Abbasi orders austerity measures in Railways under PM’s directives

ISLAMABAD, Sep 22 (APP):Federal Minister for Railways Muhammad Hanif Abbasi has ordered immediate implementation of the Prime Minister’s austerity measures in Pakistan Railways, taking a number of steps to curtail non-essential expenditure and ensure financial discipline.

Under the directives, the issuance of House Building Advance (HBA) loans to Pakistan Railways officers and employees has been suspended until December 31, 2026.

The minister has also decided to impose a ban on official foreign visits by all Pakistan Railways officers and employees, including himself, until further orders as part of the austerity drive.

In another major measure, official fuel allocations for all officers have been reduced by 50 percent, while the minister’s own official fuel allocation has also been cut by half.

The minister directed the Pakistan Railways administration to immediately enforce all relevant instructions issued under the Prime Minister’s austerity measures.

He said the steps were aimed at ensuring effective utilisation of available resources, reducing unnecessary expenditure and maintaining financial discipline within the department.

Hanif Abbasi directed all concerned officials to strictly implement the austerity measures and ensure that government resources were used efficiently.

The Prime Minister’s recent austerity measures include directives to limit government expenditure and reduce unnecessary foreign travel.