The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet, with Chief Minister (CM) Sohail Afridi in chair on Monday here approved a 25 percent reduction in fuel allowance for official vehicles, bringing the total reduction to 50 percent, as a 25 percent cut had already been in place since the COVID-19 period.
25pc reduction in fuel allowance for official vehicles approved; CM vows minimum burden on public
PESHAWAR, Mar 09 (APP):The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cabinet, with Chief Minister (CM) Sohail Afridi in chair on Monday here approved a 25 percent reduction in fuel allowance for official vehicles, bringing the total reduction to 50 percent, as a 25 percent cut had already been in place since the COVID-19 period.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has decided to conduct all meetings of government departments through virtual platforms and introduce a 50 percent (pc) work-from-home policy in public offices as part of new fuel conservation measures.
The decision was announced by Special Assistant to the CM for Information Shafi Jan after the provincial cabinet approved the Fuel Conservation and Responsible Governance Initiative.
According to him, the fuel-saving measures will initially remain in force for two months on the directives of the chief minister, after which their continuation will be reviewed in light of the prevailing situation.
Shafi Jan said the cabinet had decided that meetings of all government departments would be held 100 percent virtually, while a 50 percent work-from-home policy would be implemented in government institutions to reduce fuel consumption and operational costs.
However, police, Rescue services and other law enforcement agencies have been exempted from the fuel allowance reduction to ensure that essential services remain unaffected.
Addressing the meeting, Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Afridi said that protecting citizens from the impact of the energy shortfall and rising petrol prices is the government’s fundamental responsibility.
He said that in difficult economic conditions, officials and state institutions should be the first to reduce their privileges so that the burden does not fall on the public.
The CM stressed that relief should be provided to people by cutting down on protocol and unnecessary government expenditures.
He said that sacrifices are often demanded from the public during challenging times, and this approach must change.
Despite the global crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic, relief was provided to the public and businesses, and the current provincial government intends to follow the same principle.
Sohail Afridi made it clear that the provincial government would oppose any decision that imposes additional financial burden on the people.
He also directed the district administration and members of the provincial assembly to effectively run the Ehsaas Ramazan Dastarkhwan Program so that a large number of deserving individuals could benefit from it.
For the welfare of the labour class, the chief minister instructed authorities to establish Ehsaas Mazdoor Shelter facilities at divisional headquarters, where labourers would be provided shaded resting areas, drinking water and food.
He said that in difficult circumstances, government initiatives and social welfare facilities should serve as a source of relief for the public, and that maximum benefit of government resources must reach the people.
