In the latest in Pakistan, it’s government imposed a complete ban on expenditures such as the purchase of new vehicles, machinery, and state-funded medical treatment abroad, according to the media reports. The notification was dated on September 4 and it stated that with respect to the new budget, select expenditures will be completely prohibited to ease the burden on the national treasury.
According to the media reports, ‘It said that a ban will be imposed on the purchase of all types of vehicles, with the exception of operational vehicles, such as ambulances and other medically equipped vehicles, fire fighting vehicles, buses & vans for educational institutions, solid waste vehicles and motorbikes’. The procurement of machinery and equipment will also be prohibited except those required for hospitals, laboratories, schools, and the agriculture and mining sector. The notification further added that there will be a complete ban on the formation of new governmental posts, including temporary ones and posts lying vacant for three years will be abolished.
‘The medical treatments in foreign countries using government funds will also be prohibited, while there will also be a ban on non-obligatory visits abroad where GoP funding is involved’, stated the notification. It further added, ‘All Ministries / Divisions are requested to disseminate the above instructions to all departments under their administrative control for strict compliance’. There will be a complete ban on the appointment of staff to federal universities and hospitals except for academic staff that would be hired on a lump sum remuneration package, according to the media reports.
In April 2024, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa finance department banned the creation of posts, the purchase of vehicles, participation in foreign training programmes and workshop, according to the media reports. The move came as the Pakistani budget drew flak for imposing high taxes and raising energy costs in its bid to secure a USD 7 billion economic bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to the media reports.
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