Austerity and energy-saving steps: PM orders strict enforcement

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed all federal ministries and divisions to strictly implement austerity and energy-saving measures, stressing the urgent need to safeguard the country’s economy amid mounting domestic and international pressures.

Chairing a high-level review meeting on the recently announced austerity and energy-saving initiatives, the prime minister approved designating Friday as an additional weekly holiday, describing it as part of a broader plan to reduce government expenditure while conserving energy.

The move forms a key component of the government’s strategy to strengthen fiscal discipline and promote efficient resource management across all federal departments.

READ MORE: PM unveils austerity measures, orders four-day workweek amid Middle East war concerns

“The effective implementation of austerity and energy-saving initiatives is critical to stabilising the national economy,” Sharif said, underlining the government’s determination to navigate challenging global economic conditions while addressing domestic financial concerns.

In a bid to ensure accountability, the prime minister announced the formation of a special oversight committee, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, tasked with monitoring the implementation of these measures.

The committee will review progress on a daily basis and submit regular reports directly to the prime minister, ensuring that ministries adhere strictly to the directives.

Sharif further instructed that all austerity measures adopted by government departments undergo third-party audits to assess their impact and effectiveness.

He stressed that ministries and divisions must consistently enforce simplicity, austerity, and energy-saving practices in every aspect of their daily operations, from routine administration to larger-scale departmental planning. Officials were also directed to provide photographic evidence of vehicles withdrawn from service as part of the austerity policy.

Additionally, ministries were directed to submit daily and weekly updates on energy-saving initiatives, workforce management, and the effectiveness of work-from-home arrangements, ensuring both transparency and accountability in implementing the government’s cost-cutting strategy.

The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Cheema, Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar, and Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026