Criticism over Rs90m vehicle for Gilani: Senate Secretariat initiates ‘austerity’ measures

ISLAMABAD: Faced with massive public criticism over the purchase of a luxury vehicle worth Rs90 million for Chairman Senate Yousaf Raza Gilani, the Senate Secretariat has now claimed to have initiated “austerity” measures in the light of the prevailing economic situation.

In this context, Gilani chaired a high-level meeting at the Senate Secretariat to review and implement austerity measures.

Conspicuously, the development surfaces on the heels of media reports suggesting that the Senate Secretariat purchased a luxury Toyota Land Cruiser worth Rs90 million for the Senate chairman, a move that has earned enormous public backlash, prompting the Secretariat to issue a clarification.

But, in the said clarification, the Senate Secretariat impliedly confirmed the purchase of the luxury vehicle on the said price.

The Secretariat insisted that the said vehicle was purchased in the last financial year 2024-25 from the Senate’s “budget savings,” and that the vehicle was delivered this month.

Still, the chairman Senate has emphasised that austerity measures “must begin at the highest level.”

“Adopting a top-to-bottom approach to fiscal discipline, the chairman Senate directed that austerity measures must begin at the highest level,” said the Senate Secretariat in the statement regarding the austerity meeting chaired by Gilani.

“Accordingly, significant cuts have been ordered in the operational budget of the chairman’s office, setting a precedent for all departments to follow,” the statement added.

It said Gilani issued comprehensive directions for immediate enforcement of austerity measures across the Secretariat, including a complete ban on foreign travel, 50 percent reduction in fuel consumption, grounding of 60 percent of official vehicles, a strict ban on non-essential procurements, and implementation of deductions/contributions from salaries in line with government policy.

As a result of these measures, the Senate Secretariat has projected a reduction of more than 50 percent in its remaining budgetary utilisation for the current fiscal year, translating into estimated savings of Rs700 to 750 million, the statement said.

“The chairman Senate emphasised that public office is a sacred trust and requires the highest standards of financial prudence. He underscored that transparency, accountability, and financial discipline must remain the guiding principles in all administrative and financial matters of the Secretariat,” the statement said.

He further stated that austerity is “not merely a policy directive but a collective national responsibility, and directed all wings of the Secretariat to ensure strict compliance with these measures in order to promote efficiency, responsible governance, and public confidence in state institutions,” the statement added.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026