Dar orders immediate implementation of austerity measures

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar Monday stressed all the concerned to ensure and expedite the implementation of austerity measures with sincerity and devotion in their ranks without any exception, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Chaired the first meeting of the Monitoring Committee to oversee the implementation of austerity measures, the minister highlighted the challenging economic situation in the country.

The committee reviewed the implementation of the decisions of the Cabinet on austerity measures.

On the occasion, Secretary Finance gave a presentation on the decisions and their implementation status.

The committee was informed that Ministries/Divisions were already working on these measures and instructions have been issued for immediate compliance and reporting of any exemption and violation of these decisions.

The committee directed all Principal Accounting Officers (PAOs) to implement 15% cut in their current budgets, the statement added. It was decided that use of teleconferences must be encouraged for all meetings to save time and expenditure.

The Committee conveyed that decision to withdraw use of luxury vehicles by the Cabinet members and government officials be implemented with no exemption in any case.

Among others, the meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Federal Education and Professional Training, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Tariq Bashir Cheema; Federal Minister for Law and Justice, Azam Nazeer Tarar; Advisor PM on Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit- Baltistan, Qamar Zaman Kaira; Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Finance, Tariq Bajwa, federal secretaries and senior officers.