Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has tasked the Intelligence Bureau (IB) with monitoring the implementation of the government’s national austerity and fuel conservation plan across public institutions amid rising petroleum prices.
According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Division of Pakistan on Monday, the IB will conduct a comprehensive audit and validation exercise regarding the enforcement of fuel conservation and other austerity measures adopted by government departments.
The notification stated that the bureau will also carry out an impact assessment of the measures and submit weekly reports to the prime minister as well as to the committee formed for monitoring and implementation of the fuel conservation and austerity plan.
The directive comes after the government announced a wide-ranging austerity programme in response to rising fuel costs linked to ongoing tensions in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
In a televised address on March 9, Prime Minister Sharif said the government had taken difficult economic and administrative decisions to manage the situation and minimise the impact of the energy crisis.
He announced that both federal and provincial governments would adopt austerity and simplicity to reduce expenditures and conserve energy during the challenging economic situation.
The measures include reducing government spending, limiting non-essential movement and introducing a four-day working week in public offices.
The prime minister also announced that members of the federal cabinet, advisers and special assistants would not draw salaries for two months, while members of parliament would face a 25 per cent salary cut during the same period.
Sources said the IB has also been directed to monitor the implementation of the austerity plan in the secretariats of the National Assembly of Pakistan and the Senate of Pakistan.
Officials said strict action would be taken against officers found violating the austerity and fuel conservation measures.
The decision to assign the IB this role was made after the prime minister chaired a review meeting on the enforcement of the austerity plan, according to a statement issued by the PM House.
During the meeting, Sharif said ensuring economic stability and providing relief to the public remained the government’s top priorities, adding that all possible measures were being taken to address the economic challenges arising from ongoing global tensions.
