Ministers violating austerity policy

Fourteen cabinet members still using luxury vehicles by flouting cabinet’s orders

ISLAMABAD:

In violation of the national austerity policy, 14 cabinet ministers are still using luxury vehicles besides continuous misuse of cars by senior bureaucrats, underscoring the challenges in implementing federal cabinet’s orders.

The Cabinet Division and the finance ministry on Monday apprised the national austerity implementation committee about the violations being committed by the public office holders.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar chaired second meeting of the committee to oversee the implementation of austerity measures, approved by the federal cabinet last month to save Rs200 billion annually.

The meeting also discussed work timings and decided that new office hours would be 7.30 am to 2.30 pm and up to 12.30 pm on Friday starting first Ramazan. As per the cabinet’s decision, new timings will be followed in the summer season. A notification will be issued accordingly.

The meeting was updated on the use of luxury vehicles and was apprised that most of the allocated vehicles had been returned by the cabinet members, according to a statement of the finance ministry.

The ministry, however, protected the names of cabinet ministers who were violating the cabinet’s decision and did not share them with the media. The finance minister read out the names of ministers in the meeting.

“The meeting expressed concern over failure to return the remaining luxury vehicles and directed the Cabinet Division for strict implementation of the decision and to get back the vehicles within three days,” said the finance ministry.

However, the committee did not give any directive for taking action against the cabinet secretary for not implementing the cabinet’s decision.

The meeting also deliberated on the withdrawal of security vehicles and decided to implement the decision in true letter and spirit.

“All luxury vehicles presently deployed to cabinet members shall be withdrawn,” said the Cabinet Division in its decision.

The committee was informed that about 30 luxury vehicles had been sanctioned, of which 16 were returned by the ministers. Finance minister and planning minister have returned their luxury vehicles.

The meeting expressed serious concern over the use of SUVs/ sedans above 1,800cc by some officers and directed authorities to immediately stop the use of all those vehicles by government officials, said the finance ministry.

“Official vehicles in use of ministries, divisions of the federal government shall stand withdrawn from those senior officers who are already availing of the benefit of car monetisation. Action will be taken against the misuse of official vehicles,” said the cabinet’s decision.

However, the implementation committee did not issue any instructions to stop the misuse of vehicles by the bureaucrats who were also availing of monthly car allowance of up to Rs97,000.

Luxury vehicles, including SUVs, are also being used by military officers, which also need to be withdrawn in line with the cabinet’s decision.

The meeting reviewed the implementation of decisions made in its first meeting.

Official cars can still be seen outside of schools, shopping malls and other public places in Islamabad, indicating that the implementation of austerity policy is poor in the capital.

The austerity policy may not help in major savings, but it is important to give message of seriousness of the country’s rulers amid a worsening economic crisis.

For the current fiscal year, the budget deficit is estimated at Rs6.22 trillion, a sum that will be borrowed from domestic and foreign sources to finance expenses, including the fuel of luxury vehicles.

The finance ministry stated that a detailed presentation was given to the committee and it was informed that the implementation of austerity measures had already been started by the respective ministries and divisions.

However, the presentation of expenditure wing of the finance ministry lacked requisite details and was sketchy, according to sources.

According to the statement, the Ministry of Law and Justice was entrusted with the task of approaching the superior judiciary and suggesting the implementation of austerity measures.

The law ministry was also asked to approach Senate chairman and National Assembly speaker about the use of tele-conferences for all meetings to save time and expenditure.

The meeting was also informed that the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination had already approached provincial governments, suggesting implementation of similar austerity measures in provinces.

Ishaq Dar directed all concerned to expedite the implementation of austerity measures with sincerity and true spirit without any exception, according to the finance ministry.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 14^th, 2023.

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