KARACHI – In a major move to curb provincial spending, the Sindh government has issued strict directives to implement a comprehensive austerity plan, including a reduced work week and significant cuts to official perks.
The decisions were finalized during a high-level Secretaries’ Committee meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Sindh, Asif Hyder Shah. The session, attended by the Chairman of Planning, Senior Member of the Board of Revenue, and various provincial secretaries, focused on enforcing the Cabinet’s “Petrol Saving and Reform” initiative.
Key Austerity Measures Announced:
- Four-Day Work Week: To conserve energy and resources, a 4-day work week has been established. Government offices will now remain closed on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
- Fuel & Transport Cuts: A 50% reduction in petrol quotas for all official vehicles has been ordered. Additionally, all non-essential government vehicles are to be grounded immediately.
- Work-from-Home (WFH): Departments have been directed to allow 50% of their staff to work from home to reduce operational costs.
- Salary Contributions: High-ranking government officials will undergo a voluntary two-day salary deduction as a contribution to the province’s fiscal health.
- Procurement Ban: A complete ban on the purchase of new vehicles and luxury items has been imposed until June 2026.
- Ban on Official Banquets: Official Iftar parties and dinners are now prohibited. Furthermore, all departmental meetings must be conducted via video link to save on travel and hospitality expenses.
“We must ensure strict adherence to these measures to stabilize our financial outlook,” stated Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, emphasizing that no exceptions will be made regarding the grounding of unnecessary vehicles or the procurement ban.
The Chief Secretary has instructed all provincial secretaries and commissioners to monitor the implementation of these directives closely and provide regular compliance reports.
