Austerity drive leaves NA with vehicle headache

70% of fleet grounded after rise in petroleum prices

ISLAMABAD:

The National Assembly Secretariat's austerity drive has left it with a fresh headache after vehicles grounded under the cost-cutting measures deteriorated while parked, as tyres and valuable equipment went missing from some vehicles.

Following a report by Express News on the condition of the vehicles, the administration moved to repair them, while the secretariat has also decided to auction the grounded vehicles.

The decision to ground 70 per cent of the vehicles to save the national exchequer, instead of achieving the intended savings, created a new problem for the NA Secretariat as poor maintenance left the vehicles deteriorating while parked.

Some of the grounded vehicles were reduced to being parked on bricks and stones, while tyres and valuable equipment began disappearing from the vehicles.

The austerity drive proved costly, with inadequate maintenance taking its toll on the grounded fleet.

After Express News reported on the plight of the vehicles parked at Parliament and their deteriorating condition, the NA Secretariat took immediate action. Damaged vehicles began to be repaired, and the missing tyres were also put back on the vehicles.

According to the NA spokesperson, the damaged vehicles had been repaired, while the tyres had not been stolen but had been sent for repair.

Meanwhile, the NA Secretariat has decided to auction the grounded vehicles as part of the austerity campaign.

According to sources, 20 vehicles parked at Parliament will be auctioned under the austerity drive. The vehicles range from 800cc to 1,600cc.

Sources said the grounded vehicles at Parliament had been used by chairpersons of standing committees.

NA speaker had grounded 70 per cent of the vehicles following an increase in the prices of petroleum products.