‘Govt has approved austerity steps including closure of schools,’ says Sharjeel

KARACHI: Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that important decisions were taken in the Sindh Cabinet meeting chaired by the Chief Minister of Sindh.

The cabinet approved the Sindh Agriculture Women Workers Rules, under which equal wages and maternity facilities will be provided to women agricultural workers. He said that legal measures have also been included to protect women from harassment and discrimination, and such a measure is being taken for the first time in Pakistan.

The cabinet also approved the issuance of the Benazir Women Agricultural Workers Card, while an endowment fund of Rs 500 million will be established for the welfare of women workers. He said that it is the responsibility of the government to empower women and provide them with complete protection, adding that no work at this level has been done for women before.

Addressing a press conference after the cabinet meeting, Memon said that the Sindh Cabinet has also approved the establishment of a nursing school in Malir, for which four acres of government land has been allocated in Taluka Ibrahim Hyderi. In addition, funds have also been approved for Hassan Salman Hospital, and the Sindh government will provide an amount equal to the private sector’s investment in this project, which will provide important medical facilities to the people of Karachi.

He added that, for the first time in Pakistan, a mobile app and a digital dashboard have been approved for monitoring student attendance. Through this system, records of student attendance and admissions will be maintained, which will help address dropout cases. This system will be implemented in all schools in Sindh within a year and is being termed a major revolutionary step by the Sindh Education Department.

He said that the Sindh government has decided to release the wheat available in its stocks to traders to avoid any shortage in the market. In view of the current situation, the austerity program introduced by the federal government has also been ratified, and the Sindh government has launched its own austerity campaign.

The fuel consumption of government vehicles is being reduced by 50 percent, which is expected to save about Rs 960 million. However, ambulance, police, and other emergency service vehicles will be exempted. Sixty percent of the vehicles in government departments will remain off the road for two months, while forty percent will continue to be used. A committee has been formed to monitor this process.

Memon said that ministers have voluntarily decided not to take salaries for three months, while the Sindh Assembly will decide regarding the salaries of assembly members. In the last quarter of the financial year, unnecessary government expenditure will be reduced by 20 percent. Foreign trips have been banned, and if necessary, government officials will travel in economy class; no one will be allowed to travel in business class.

He said that, in view of the international and regional situation, it has been decided to keep educational institutions in Sindh closed from March 16 to March 31; however, no exams will be postponed. Moreover, government employees will work from home on Fridays, while offices will operate normally on the remaining four days.

He said that the Sindh Cabinet has also decided to stop all types of refreshments in government offices for two months. In view of Ramadan, tea, snacks, or any type of refreshment will not be provided at the government level during this period. If any employee wishes to consume anything personally, they may do so at their own expense.

He said that everyone will have to play a collective role in dealing with the economic and administrative challenges the country is currently facing. In response to a question, Sharjeel Inam Memon said that half of the funds for the Hassan Suleman Hospital project are being provided by the Sindh government, while the other half is being provided by private owners. The government aims to provide state-of-the-art medical facilities to the public.

He said that the good intentions of those working on this project should be appreciated and not viewed with suspicion, as it is an important public welfare project from which the common man and the poor will benefit.

He further said that the Sindh Cabinet has decided to withdraw security from former caretaker ministers and other personalities. The PPP and the Sindh government stand with the federal government and security forces to deal with all challenges.

As part of the austerity measures, the Sindh Chief Minister’s plane will remain grounded during this period, while official invitations and functions in private hotels have been banned. Cabinet members have also decided that they will not personally attend Iftar parties in order to convey a message of austerity.

Sharjeel Inam Memon said that 25 people involved in wheat embezzlement have been dismissed. He said that all the austerity measures taken by the government aim to ensure better utilization of national resources, and the savings generated will be spent on public welfare projects.

He added that special attention will be paid to reducing expenditures in government departments over the next two months so that maximum savings can be achieved by limiting unnecessary activities and reducing the consumption of petrol and diesel.

He said that the government’s priority is to minimize the impact of the recent increase in petrol and diesel prices on the general public. The Chief Secretary has been directed to maintain effective communication with all relevant institutions to control prices, while continuous consultations are also underway with the transport sector to ensure that the public faces minimal difficulties.

He said that this is a major challenge, and the government did not increase prices willingly but out of compulsion due to rising international oil prices. However, despite this, the government is trying to provide maximum relief to the public and minimize the negative effects.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026