DNA
Islamabad: March 14, 2026 — Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting today to review the regional situation’s impact on petroleum product prices and the implementation of government austerity and savings measures.The meeting discussed policy steps to ensure stability in petroleum product prices amid prevailing circumstances, along with progress on the government’s austerity initiatives and their effects.Briefing the participants, officials informed the Prime Minister that funds saved through these austerity measures would be utilized exclusively for public relief in the current challenging conditions. All savings achieved from frugality efforts will be directed solely toward providing relief to the public.
A key decision taken during the meeting was to implement tiered salary deductions ranging from 5% to 30% for employees of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and autonomous bodies under government oversight, similar to those applied to regular government employees. These deducted amounts will be allocated for public relief purposes.Additionally, it was resolved that government representatives serving on the boards of corporations and other entities would no longer receive board meeting fees.
These fees will instead be added to the overall savings pool.The Prime Minister issued directives to all Pakistani embassies and missions worldwide to observe Pakistan Day celebrations on March 23 with utmost simplicity.The meeting clarified that law enforcement agencies and the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) would remain exempt from any four-day workweek policy and would continue operating under their existing routines and schedules.Regarding the earlier decision to reduce fuel allocation for official vehicles by 50% and ground 60% of government vehicles for the next two months, the Prime Minister ordered a third-party audit to evaluate compliance and effectiveness.The meeting received a briefing on the strict implementation of a complete ban on the purchase of new vehicles by the government, as well as restrictions on all other official procurements.It was further informed that, for the next two months, salaries of cabinet members, ministers, advisers, and special assistants would also be treated as savings and redirected toward public welfare initiatives.A complete ban has been imposed on foreign tours by ministers, advisers, special assistants, state ministers, and senior officials, with priority given to teleconferencing and online meetings instead.The Prime Minister emphasized that all these directives on simplicity, austerity, and frugality must be strictly enforced. Relevant secretaries will personally monitor implementation and submit daily reports to the review committee.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Attaullah Tarar, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, the Chairman of the FBR, and other senior officials.These measures come amid ongoing global oil price volatility and regional tensions, building on earlier austerity announcements aimed at conserving resources and providing targeted public relief without further burdening citizens through additional fuel price hikes.
