Balochistan clamps down on official car misuse

QUETTA:

The Balochistan government has introduced strict measures to enforce national austerity policies, including a ban on the use of government vehicles after office hours.

The decision was taken during a high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat.

According to the directives, all government vehicles will undergo a comprehensive audit, and fuel supply will be restricted to verified and authorised vehicles only.

The meeting also approved the phased auction of vehicles older than 2005 and rationalization of the government fleet.

The meeting also decided the immediate retrieval of government vehicles from unauthorized individuals, including former governors, ex-chief ministers, ex-ministers, retired officers, and others.

The government imposed complete ban on the use of government vehicles after office hours, except with prior approval from the competent authority.

In the meeting it was decided that the installation of trackers in all government vehicles to monitor movement.

It also prohibited that taking government vehicles outside Balochistan without permission. Monitoring of vehicles within cities through Safe City cameras to strengthen transparency and oversight.

Chief Minister Bugti emphasized that misuse of public resources would not be tolerated.

“Strict implementation of austerity measures is essential to ensure the efficient and transparent use of government assets,” he said, directing authorities to take indiscriminate action against unauthorized or unnecessary use of official vehicles.

Officials confirmed that these steps are part of a broader austerity drive aimed at safeguarding public resources and ensuring accountability across government departments.