The Finance Division has announced a series of austerity measures aimed at controlling federal government expenditures, including a ban on the purchase of vehicles, procurement of machinery, and the creation of new posts. This decision follows the Cabinet’s directive for case No. 232/28/2024, dated August 27, 2024, and will remain in effect until further notice.

The notification specifies a complete ban on several expenditures related to the current budget. These include the purchase of all types of vehicles, with exceptions for operational vehicles such as ambulances, medically equipped vehicles, firefighting vehicles, buses and vans for educational institutions, solid waste vehicles, and motorbikes. The procurement of machinery and equipment is also restricted, except for those needed in hospitals, laboratories, agriculture, mining, and schools.

Additionally, the creation of new posts, including contingent paid and temporary positions, is prohibited, as is the continuation of such posts beyond one year. The measures also ban government-funded treatment abroad and all non-essential international travel funded by the Government of Pakistan.

The austerity measures previously notified by the Cabinet Division in February 2023 will continue to apply unless altered or revoked by the Federal Cabinet. Furthermore, all posts that have been vacant for the past three years will be abolished. However, the purchase of durables and the creation of posts under PSDP-funded projects are exempt from these restrictions.

The Finance Division has instructed all ministries and divisions to ensure that these directives are communicated to all departments under their administrative control for strict compliance.