Senate surrenders Rs265m to FD
ISLAMABAD: The Upper House of the Parliament announced to have surrendered 265 million rupees to the Finance Division as part of the ongoing austerity drive.
The decision was taken on the direction of Chairman Senate Yousaf Raza Gilani, the Senate Secretariat said in a statement on Friday.
Gilani has directed the Senate Secretariat to implement austerity measures in letter and spirit in line with the austerity drive announced by the prime minister, the statement said.
“Following the chairman’s instructions, the Senate Secretariat, after a detailed review of its expenditures, has surrendered Rs 265 million to the Finance Division as an immediate measure,” the statement said.
Last week, the reports surfaced that the Senate Secretariat purchased a luxury Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle worth Rs 90 million rupees for the chairman Senate. The development earned enormous public backlash, prompting the Secretariat to issue a clarification.
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In the said clarification, the Senate Secretariat impliedly confirmed the purchase of the luxury vehicle on the said price but 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.
On the heels of the vehicle controversy, Gilani, last week, chaired a high-level meeting at the Senate Secretariat to review and implement austerity measures in the light of the prevailing economic situation.
“The austerity measures must begin at the highest level adopting a top-to-bottom approach to fiscal discipline,” Gilani was quoted as having said in an official statement issued after the meeting.
As a result of these measures, the Senate Secretariat estimates savings of Rs 700 million to Rs 750 million in the current fiscal year, the statement added.
In Friday’s statement, the Senate Secretariat said, efforts are underway to identify additional savings by curtailing expenses in the coming weeks for further deposit in the national exchequer.
The chairman Senate emphasised that the Senate, as a key constitutional institution, fully recognises the importance of fiscal discipline in the current economic circumstances and remains committed to supporting the government’s efforts for economic stability, the statement said.
Gilani directed the relevant wings of the Senate Secretariat to strictly adhere to austerity guidelines, including rationalisation of non-essential expenditures, reduction in operational costs, and efficient utilization of available resources, while ensuring that parliamentary functions, legislative responsibilities, and oversight mechanisms remain fully effective, according to the statement.
It said Gilani expressed confidence that responsible financial management and collective institutional efforts will contribute positively towards strengthening the national economy.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026