Balochistan announces austerity measures amid economic challenges

QUETTA, Mar 10 (APP):The Balochistan government has introduced a series of austerity measures aimed at reducing expenditures and conserving public resources in response to prevailing economic challenges and global developments.

An important meeting on austerity measures was held in Quetta under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Balochistan, Shakeel Qadir Khan to review strategies for reducing government expenditures in light of the prevailing economic situation and global developments.

During the meeting, participants conducted a detailed review of various aspects of austerity and discussed measures taken by the provincial government to minimize official spending.

Several practical steps were approved to ensure financial discipline and conserve public resources.

Under the approved measures, members of the provincial cabinet, provincial advisers, and parliamentary secretaries will voluntarily forgo two months of their salaries. Additionally, members of the Balochistan Provincial Assembly will contribute 25 percent of their salaries to the national treasury.

The meeting also decided that officers in Grade 20 and those receiving a monthly salary of Rs300,000 or more will voluntarily deposit the equivalent of two days’ salary into the government treasury.

To further cut costs, significant reductions in operational expenses were announced. These include a 50 percent reduction in fuel provision for official vehicles, a ban on the purchase of new departmental vehicles, and keeping 60 percent of government vehicles out of use.

Other measures include introducing a four-day workweek in government offices, implementing 50 percent work-from-home arrangements, and temporarily closing schools and colleges until March 23. The government has also banned official dinners and directed departments to prioritize online meetings to reduce administrative costs.

Furthermore, all government seminars, conferences, and training sessions will now be held at official venues such as auditoriums and committee rooms instead of external facilities.

Officials said these steps are expected to generate significant savings, which will be utilized for public subsidies and development projects. The measures are also intended to strengthen economic stability and contribute to national security during challenging economic conditions.

Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan directed all relevant authorities to strictly implement the proposed measures. The austerity directives will apply to all provincial departments, attached departments and organizations, the provincial assembly, the judiciary, autonomous bodies, statutory authorities, and other public institutions.

In this regard, the Services and General Administration Department has also issued a formal notification outlining the details of the austerity measures and instructions for their implementation.