Balochistan acts against official over austerity policy violation

QUETTA: The Balochistan government has started strict implementation of its austerity policy and has moved against officials found violating the measures, according to the Livestock and Dairy Development Department.

The department said a government vehicle allotted to a district officer in Quetta was taken back after the officer was found to have breached the austerity guidelines issued by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti.

A formal notice has also been issued to the officer, seeking an explanation over the violation. The department further directed that the confiscated vehicle be returned without delay to the official vehicle pool, and said a notification had been issued to ensure the order is carried out.

Government signals strict enforcement

The provincial government has stated that it will not allow negligence or breaches of the austerity policy and that action will be taken in all such cases without discrimination.

Officials said the purpose of the austerity steps was to promote transparent and efficient use of public resources. The latest action indicates that the administration has begun enforcing the policy in practical terms by targeting violations within government departments.

According to the department, the case involved a district-level officer in Quetta who had been assigned an official vehicle. After the officer was found in violation of the chief minister’s austerity instructions, the vehicle was withdrawn and ordered back into the government pool.

The department’s statement also made clear that disciplinary action was not limited to the withdrawal of the vehicle, as the officer has additionally been asked to explain the breach through a formal notice.

The move comes as the Balochistan government presses ahead with austerity measures introduced under directions issued by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti. Officials maintained that the policy is aimed at ensuring public resources are used properly and efficiently, and said violations would not be overlooked.

The government has underscored that the rules apply across the board and that strict action would be taken wherever the austerity policy is breached.