Islamabad, March 17,2026: Chairman Senate Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani on Tuesday announced sweeping austerity measures at the Senate Secretariat, aiming to save between Rs700 million and Rs750 million amid the prevailing economic challenges.
Chairing a high-level meeting, the Senate chairman directed that fiscal discipline should begin from the top, ordering substantial cuts in the operational budget of his own office to set a precedent for all departments.
Under the new measures, a complete ban has been imposed on foreign travel, while consumption of POL (petrol, oil and lubricants) will be reduced by 50 percent. Additionally, 60 percent of official vehicles will be grounded, and non-essential procurements have been strictly prohibited.
The chairman also ordered implementation of salary-related deductions and contributions in line with the government’s broader austerity policy. New administrative arrangements, including rotation-based pick-and-drop facilities for staff, have been introduced to further reduce operational costs.
Any future purchases will now require approval from a dedicated Senate Austerity Committee, ensuring tighter financial oversight.
Officials informed the meeting that these steps are expected to reduce more than 50 percent of the Secretariat’s remaining budgetary utilization for the current fiscal year, translating into estimated savings of up to Rs750 million.
Gilani emphasized that public office is a “sacred trust” and called for strict adherence to principles of transparency, accountability and financial discipline. He stressed that austerity must be treated as a collective national responsibility and directed all departments to ensure full compliance.
The move comes as part of broader efforts to promote efficient governance and restore public confidence in state institutions.
