ISLAMABAD Approving a cut in the foreign visits of President, Prime Minister and federal ministers, the Federal Cabinet on Wednesday reduced some ministries besides lessening strength of cabinet as part of the government austerity measures. Addressing a press conference after the Federal Cabinets meeting held on Wednesday, Information Minister Qamar Zaman Kaira said that the cabinet decided to reduce the number of federal ministries and bring them to between 30 and 40 and the number of divisions from 52 to 37 as part of austerity measures. According to Kaira, the cabinet also approved that ministries would reduce expenditure by 30 percent on foreign visits. Likewise, expenditure on visits of ministers, Prime Ministers and the President would be reduced by 40 percent, it further decided. Kaira said that, the entourage of the President and the Prime Minister would also be restricted to 7 vehicles while that of the Governors and Chief Ministers to mere 6. The foreign visits of President, Prime Minister and Ministers have been cut by 40 percent, said Minister for Information. Flanked by Federal Minister for Finance Shaukat Tarin, the Information Minister said that expenses in public offices would also be reduced besides utilities expenses of the President and the Prime Minister, which would be capped after imposing a 25 percent cut. Explaining the cut in the ministries number, Kaira said that the number of ministries would be reduced to 30 and divisions to 37 (from 52). He said that the entertainment expenditure would also be reduced by 30 percent and one dish will be served at all government luncheons and dinners. The cabinet observed that consensus was needed on the proposal of 5-day working week because of some reservations raised by the Punjab. The cabinet also informed that the commercial flights would be used instead of chartered planes. Besides, no Hajj would be allowed at official expenses. Telephone ceiling on all official connections is revisited and the pay and pension committee shall look into the details of this proposal. Kaira further said that in the federal cabinet meeting, it was also approved that Federal Ministers might use up to 1800-CC cars while provincial ministers might use vehicles up to 1600-CC. All VIP lounges are being abolished and VIP wards at hospitals are also eliminated from public hospitals, he said. To a question, Minister said that PIA, Pakistan Railways (PR), Utility Stores Corporation of Pakistan and several other government-run organisations are facing an annual deficit of Rs52 billion. He said that after reducing this loss, its shares would be given to private sector. Kaira told that the cabinet was informed that Constitutional Reforms Committee was meeting five-day a week to expedite its proceedings. The committee is likely to take into stock subject of provincial autonomy and the nation would hear good news soon in this regard, Kaira said. The meeting was informed that the shortfall of the power has been reduced from 3500 MW last year to 600 MW this year because of the concrete steps taken by the government. The cabinet also discussed that every alternate streetlight might be kept switched off from dusk to dawn. Line losses of the power companies would be reduced and self-regulating gas heaters might replace the existing geysers. In the cabinet meeting Prime Minister felicitated the nation on the Consensus Agreement on long-awaited NFC award. He said it was the victory of the democratic forces and reflected that the political leadership of the country was fully capable to resolve issues of national importance. He hoped that the historic decision and the new distribution of resources between the centre and the provinces would pave way for the provinces to have more funds and would go a long way for the betterment of the people. He said that strong, prosperous provinces would strengthen the federation and usher in a new era of socio-economic development of the people of Pakistan. All the members of the Cabinet as well as Chief Ministers of Punjab and Sindh congratulated and lauded the unwavering support of the Prime Minister and Federal Government towards reaching a consensus agreement on 7th NFC Award and termed it as an historic success of the political leadership. Chief Minister Punjab, Mian Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif said he was greatly indebted to Prime Minister for his continued support for reaching unanimity on the agreement. He said that without the support of the Federal Government it was not possible for the provinces to make a breakthrough. Chief Minister Sindh, Syed Qaim Ali Shah also praised the Prime Ministers role. In the cabinet Pay and Pension Commission was instructed to come up with the proposals for improvement in the salary structure of all perks and privileges of the government servants.