Sindh curbs its spending

KARACHI:

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

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

During the meeting, participants had in-depth discussions on efficient use of energy, reducing public expenditure and improving resource management without affecting public service delivery.

The committee decided to reduce fuel allowances for government workers by 50%, while 60% of government vehicles will be grounded. However, this decision will not affect operational vehicles, including police mobiles, ambulances, fire engines and other essential service vehicles.

The General Administration Secretary was authorized to immobilize government vehicles and directed to submit daily reports to the committee.

A formal form will also be prepared to record registration numbers and details of grounded vehicles. The commission clarified that if a department does not comply with these instructions, the vehicle concerned may be taken into custody.

To ensure implementation, a monitoring committee comprising the General Administration Secretary and the Excise Secretary was formed. The committee will compile a complete list of all grounded vehicles.

The meeting also reviewed the monitoring and recovery of vehicles allocated for government projects, called project vehicles. The committee members ordered that details of all these vehicles be obtained and steps taken to recover them at the earliest, with a report submitted.

Furthermore, it was decided that government offices would operate normally four days a week, while Friday would be dedicated to working from home.

In addition, all schools in the province will remain closed from March 16 to 31, although exams will continue as scheduled and will not be postponed.

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

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