Sindh slams the brakes on spending

KARACHI:

The Sindh government has tightened austerity measures further in a bid to prepare for potential energy challenges, unveiling a series of cost-cutting and energy-saving steps aimed at reducing government expenditures while maintaining essential public services.

In this regard, an important meeting of the Austerity Committee, chaired by Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, was held on Thursday.

During the meeting, participants held detailed discussions on the efficient use of energy, reducing government expenditures, and improving resource management without affecting public service delivery.

The committee decided to cut fuel allocations for government officers by 50%, while 60% of government vehicles will be grounded. However, this decision will not affect the operational vehicles, including police mobiles, ambulances, fire brigade vehicles and other essential service vehicles.

The secretary of general administration has been authorised to ground government vehicles and directed to submit daily reports to the committee.

A formal proforma will also be prepared to record the registration numbers and details of the grounded vehicles. The committee made it clear that if any department violates these instructions, the concerned vehicle may be taken into custody.

To ensure implementation, a monitoring committee comprising secretary of general administration and the secretary excise has been formed. The committee will compile a comprehensive list of all grounded vehicles.

The meeting also reviewed the scrutiny and recovery of vehicles allocated to government projects, known as project vehicles. Committee members directed that details of all such vehicles be obtained and that steps be taken to recover them at the earliest, with a report to be submitted.

Additionally, it was decided that government offices would operate normally for four days a week, while Fridays will be designated as work-from-home.

Furthermore, all schools across the province will remain closed from March 16 to March 31, although examinations will continue according to their scheduled timetable and will not be postponed.

Addressing the meeting, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the aim of these decisions is to reduce energy consumption without affecting public services, and all departments must strictly implement the austerity measures.

Provincial ministers Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Saeed Ghani, Ziaul Hassan Lanjar, and Mukesh Kumar Chawla, along with other relevant officials attended the meeting.