Govt issues new austerity policy 2019-20

They are also not allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment

LAHORE: The Punjab government has issued a new austerity policy, under which provincial ministers and government officials won’t be allowed to make foreign government visits using state funds during the fiscal year 2020-2019.

The Punjab government has issued this new policy under the austerity campaign.

According to the notification issued by the austerity committee, ministers will not be allowed to renovate their houses either.

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If government officials and ministers wish to make foreign trips, they will be required to seek approval from Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar. Similarly, they will not be allowed to travel abroad for medical treatment. The purchase of new vehicles has also been banned. In order to save electricity in Punjab, the purchase of new air conditioners will also be restricted.

The notification stated that seminars and workshops will not be organised at five star hotels from the government treasury. Meanwhile, development projects will be advertised through PC-1. Under the austerity policy, supplementary grants have been fully banned.

The notification stated that Provincial Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht has been appointed as the chairman of the committee.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 11^th, 2019.