Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting to review the potential impact of regional developments on petroleum product prices and to assess the implementation of government austerity measures.
During the meeting, officials discussed policy steps aimed at maintaining stability in petroleum prices and reducing government expenditure. The prime minister emphasised that savings generated through austerity measures would be redirected toward providing relief to the public.
As part of the decisions, salaries of employees in state-owned enterprises and autonomous institutions operating under government patronage will be reduced in phases from 5% to 30%, with the savings allocated for public welfare.
The government also decided that official representatives serving on the boards of corporations and institutions will forgo their board meeting fees, which will be included in the national savings pool.
Prime Minister Sharif further instructed all Pakistani embassies worldwide to observe March 23 celebrations with simplicity. Additionally, a third-party audit will be conducted to monitor the implementation of fuel cuts for government vehicles and the grounding of a majority of official vehicles to save fuel.
The meeting was also informed that cabinet members, ministers, advisers and special assistants will not draw salaries for the next two months, while foreign visits by government officials will remain suspended, with online meetings encouraged.
Senior federal ministers and officials, including representatives from the Federal Board of Revenue, attended the meeting.
