Pakistan’s federal cabinet has decided to forgo two months of salaries as part of a national austerity policy aimed at reducing government expenditures amid ongoing economic challenges.
The decision was made during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, which was attended by the chief ministers of all four provinces as well as the prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
During the meeting, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb briefed participants on the proposed austerity measures and outlined steps the government plans to take to manage public spending and conserve resources.
Officials discussed the need to reduce the use of petroleum products and adopt cost-saving measures at the government level in response to the global economic environment and pressures on national finances.
The meeting also reviewed proposals aimed at providing relief to low-income and vulnerable segments of the population.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the national austerity policy was developed in consultation with provincial governments to ensure coordinated implementation across the country.
He emphasized the importance of responsible use of national resources and said the government would continue to monitor economic conditions while taking steps to maintain stability.
The prime minister also stressed that government officials and public sector employees should adopt austerity and simplicity as part of broader efforts to manage public expenditure.
Officials said the measures are intended to support economic stability while the government works to address fiscal pressures and safeguard public finances.
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