The Punjab Assembly (PA) Secretariat has implemented comprehensive austerity measures under the nationwide campaign launched by Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, according to an official notification issued Wednesday.
Punjab Assembly (PA) Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan announced that he will forgo his salary and will also not avail the fuel facility for official vehicles in line with the campaign.
Under the new measures, salaries and allowances of Punjab Assembly members will be reduced by 25 percent for the next two months. To ensure efficient use of resources, 70 percent of official vehicles will remain grounded, and protocol vehicle squads have been completely banned.
The notification directs that Assembly sessions and Standing Committee meetings be held before sunset wherever possible, with virtual meetings permitted in unavoidable cases. The number of committee meetings will be minimized, and office hours during Ramadan are set from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and after Ramadan from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Offices will remain closed on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, except when the Assembly is in session.
Energy-saving measures include a 70 percent reduction in electricity consumption, switching off non-essential lights and appliances, and promoting a paperless working environment. All non-essential procurements have been suspended, and the existing ban on government vehicle purchases until June 2026 will remain in effect. Official dinners and Iftar gatherings have also been prohibited except for visiting foreign delegations.
As part of the austerity measures, 80 percent of Secretariat staff will work remotely, though they may be required to report to the office on short notice. Remote staff will not be entitled to honoraria or sessional allowances. The notification adds that adjustments to these measures may be made during Assembly sessions if required.