Islamabad: Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani chaired a high-level meeting at the Senate Secretariat to review and implement austerity measures amid the prevailing economic situation, focusing on significant reductions in the budgetary spending of the Senate, starting with substantial cuts in the expenditures of the Chairman’s Office.

According to Senate of Pakistan, the Chairman Senate has directed that austerity measures must begin at the highest level, adopting a top-to-bottom approach to fiscal discipline. Consequently, significant cuts have been ordered in the operational budget of the Chairman’s Office, setting an example for all departments to emulate.

Comprehensive directions have been issued for the immediate enforcement of austerity measures across the Secretariat. These include a complete ban on foreign travel, a fifty percent reduction in POL consumption, grounding sixty percent of official vehicles, a strict ban on non-essential procurements, and deductions/contributions from salaries in line with government policy.

Additionally, new administrative arrangements have been introduced for HR Management, including rotation-based pick-and-drop facilities, aimed at minimizing operational costs and reducing consumption. Any future purchases must be reviewed and approved by a dedicated Senate Austerity Committee.

The Senate Secretariat has projected that these measures will result in a reduction of more than fifty percent in its remaining budgetary utilization for the current fiscal year, translating into estimated savings of Rs. 700 to 750 million.

Chairman Senate emphasized that public office is a sacred trust and requires the highest standards of financial prudence. He highlighted that transparency, accountability, and financial discipline must guide all administrative and financial matters of the Secretariat.

He further stated that austerity is not merely a policy directive but a collective national responsibility, directing all wings of the Secretariat to ensure strict compliance with these measures to promote efficiency, responsible governance, and public confidence in state institutions.