The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has reduced the monthly fuel (POL) quota for official vehicles by 25 percent (pc) and grounded 60pc vehicles for two months in view of the prevailing regional situation and possible pressure on foreign exchange reserves.
According to a circular issued by the Transport Wing of the Administration Department, the decision was taken during the provincial cabinet meeting held on March 9.
Under the new policy, provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants and parliamentary secretaries will face a deduction of 98 litres from their monthly petrol quota. Their fuel allocation has been reduced from 390 litres to 292 litres.
The document states that the move aims to address challenges affecting the supply of petroleum products and to ease the burden on foreign exchange reserves.
Following the new adjustment, the monthly quota for the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretaries and the Finance Secretary has been reduced from 146 litres to 110 litres. Similarly, the quota for administrative secretaries, commissioners and deputy inspectors general (DIGs) has been cut from 130 litres to 98 litres.
Officers in grade 20 and above, including the Chairman of the Public Service Commission and Service Tribunal officials, will now receive 74 litres instead of 98 litres per month.
The government has fixed a new monthly quota of 104 litres for deputy commissioners, additional deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and departmental heads.
For police operations, the quota for SDPOs has been set at 260 litres, traffic police at 195 litres, and police stations at 351 litres per month.
The notification also allocates 535 litres of petrol for four protocol vehicles at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad, calculated at 134 litres per vehicle, while vehicles at other KP Houses will receive 57 litres instead of the previous 75 litres.
Authorities have directed all concerned departments to ensure strict implementation of the revised fuel quotas and informed the Accountant General, Director General Audit, principal secretaries and other relevant institutions accordingly.
Meanwhile, the provincial government has also decided to ground 60 percent of official vehicles for a period of two months in view of the evolving regional situation and possible pressure on petroleum supplies and foreign exchange reserves.
According to a notification issued by the provincial administration, the measure aims to reduce fuel consumption amid concerns over the availability of petroleum products and economic pressures.
The order directs principal accounting officers of all departments to ensure strict implementation of the decision. However, vehicles used for police operational duties, law enforcement agencies, rescue and emergency services, and field enforcement units have been exempted from the restriction.
Officials said the notification was issued on the directives of the Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and copies have been circulated to the Inspector General of Police, additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, commissioners, deputy commissioners and other relevant departments.
The provincial government believes the move will help manage fuel consumption and address challenges arising from the current regional situation and economic constraints.