PM Shehbaz announces austerity measures amid global fuel crisis linked to Middle East conflict

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday unveiled a series of austerity measures aimed at addressing the economic challenges posed by the ongoing global fuel crisis, which he attributed to the US-Israel conflict with Iran.

In a televised address to the nation, the prime minister stated that earlier in the day, a meeting was held with federal and provincial government representatives to discuss and finalize the austerity plan. He emphasized that these steps were necessary to mitigate the economic impact of the escalating situation in the Middle East.

Detailing the measures, Prime Minister Shehbaz announced that for the next two months, the fuel allowance for official vehicles would be reduced by 50 percent. He clarified that ambulances and public buses would be exempt from this reduction. Additionally, he said that 60 percent of vehicles used by government departments would be taken off the roads for the same period.

The prime minister further announced that members of the federal cabinet would forgo their salaries for the next two months. He also stated that parliamentarians' salaries would be cut by 50 percent during this time. In addition, two days’ salary from BS-20 government officials earning more than Rs300,000 would be allocated for public welfare.

Prime Minister Shehbaz highlighted that these steps were part of a broader effort to conserve resources and manage the economic fallout from the global fuel crisis. He noted that the government was committed to reducing its own expenditures as a demonstration of solidarity with the public during these challenging times.

He concluded by urging all segments of society to play their part in conserving resources and supporting the nation through the current economic difficulties.