ISLAMABAD   -  The government has introduced new austerity measures due to the financial constraints for the current fiscal year including ban on creation of new posts, purchase of all types of vehicles and restricting all outstation meetings through internet link (Zoom etc). 

The ministry of finance announced the austerity measures for the current fiscal year to control the expenditures of the government. The ministry stated that it is announcing the new measures owing to the financial constraints faced by the government. It has imposed ban on creating new posts, purchasing new vehicles and some other measures, which would be implemented from July 2021 to June 2022. 

“There shall be complete ban on purchase of all types of vehicles both for current and development expenditure excluding motorcycles, student buses, ambulances and fire fighting vehicles,” the ministry of finance stated in office memorandum. Meanwhile, there shall be complete ban on creation of new posts except those required for development projects and approved by the competent authority. 

“Privilege of periodical, magazines, news papers etc, to the entitled officers will remain restricted to only one,” the office memorandum said. It added that Principal Accounting Officers (PAOs) would ensure rationalised utility consumption i.e. electricity, gas, telephone, water etc and the expenditure on purchase of assets; repair & maintenance and all other operational expenditures shall be kept at bare minimum level while remaining within the budgetary allocation for the financial year.

The ministry of finance has said that two sides of paper shall be used in all official communications. Meanwhile, all outstation meetings be restricted through internet link (zoom etc.) only unless physical presence is strongly justified and approved by the competent authority.

The government has also decided to constitute an austerity committee to deal with the indispensable needs. “In the above context, to cater with the indispensable needs of the ministries /divisions/departments/ organisations etc. the competent authority is pleased to constitute an Austerity Committee comprising the following officers to review the critical / unavoidable / significant proposals only in respect of ban on purchase of vehicles / creation of posts imposed”.

The committee would comprise of the additional finance secretary (expenditure) (in chair) (ii), senior joint secretary/ joint secretary expenditure-cga) (member) (iii) senior joint secretary/ joint secretary (member) expenditure-concerned ministry/division finance division (iv) representative of the concerned ministry/division (member) ‘department (not less than an officer in BS 20 (member) deputy secretary (expenditure cga) (secretary).

The ministry of finance has directed all the ministries/divisions to disseminate the above instructions to all departments/ organisations under their administrative control for strict compliance.

Diyat for the fiscal year 2021-22

The ministry of finance has also issued notification for fixing Diyat amount for the ongoing financial year. “In pursuance of sub-section (2) of Section 323 of Pakistan Penal Code (Act XLV of 1860), the federal government is pleased to declare Rs.4, 261,205/- (rupees four million two hundred sixty one thousand, two hundred and five only), to be the value of thirty thousand six hundred and thirty (30,630) grains of silver for the financial year 2021-2022 for the purpose of sub-section (1) thereof,” the ministry stated in the notification.