Country can’t afford elite’s luxuries on taxpayers’ money: PM

Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday vowed to protect every penny of the people, declaring that the country cannot afford to fund the luxuries of the bureaucracy and elite at the expense of taxpayers. He stressed that he would safeguard the nation's resources "till the last drop of my blood."

Chairing a federal cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister emphasized that all ministers and institutions must make decisions that prioritize saving the nation's money. He highlighted that improving governance and implementing institutional reforms are top priorities.

"We are advancing digitization and smart management to modernize the country's system and align it with international standards," PM Shehbaz stated.

The Prime Minister praised the finance minister, minister for national food security, minister for energy, and other officials for ensuring the uninterrupted supply of urea fertilizer for the upcoming Rabi crop. He noted that by halting urea imports and ensuring continuous gas supply to fertilizer units, the government saved $130 million.

The federal cabinet reviewed proposals from the Ministry of Housing and Works regarding the dissolution of the Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD). The cabinet was informed that necessary staff and inquiries related to ongoing development projects had been transferred to the relevant ministries and provincial governments, ensuring continuity.

The cabinet also approved the recommendations of the Rightsizing of the Federal Government Committee, led by the finance minister, which aims to streamline government operations. The committee's first phase involved merging and dissolving 82 government bodies into 40 institutions, with a focus on digitization, efficient governance, and better service delivery.

The cabinet formed a committee to protect the interests of employees affected by these mergers and dissolutions.

The meeting also reviewed progress on the ongoing austerity drive, which includes voluntary salary cuts by cabinet members, bans on non-essential government spending, and restrictions on foreign travel and treatment abroad. PM Shehbaz urged ministers to ensure these austerity measures are strictly implemented in their respective ministries.

The cabinet also endorsed the decisions made in the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) meeting held on August 22, 2024.