‘Austerity drive’: Punjab ministers to bear patrol expenses themselves

Lahore: Spokesman for the Punjab government and provincial minister Ataullah Tarar Saturday said that Punjab Provincial Ministers will bear patrol expenses of their official vehicles themselves. 

While speaking to a news conference in Lahore today, the minister stated that the provincial government has imposed a ban on the purchase of new vehicles and renovation of government offices.

“Big relief package will be announced in next Punjab budget,” he said, adding that the austerity measures are being taken to control inflation and curtail unbridled expenditures. 

The austerity drive comes as the country is under immense economic with dwindling foreign exchange reserves fuelled by widening trade deficit and increasing global oil prices.

The government also reduced petrol quota for ministers and bureaucrats.

Apart from Punjab, Karachi Administrator Murtaza Wahab also announced a 40% reduction in the petrol quota for Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) employees—hoping to save millions of rupees for the exchequer.

“Overburdening the treasury means overburdening the masses,” said Murad Ali Shah