Islamabad : Pakistan rushed to an emergency austerity drive to off-set extremely dangerous impact of the on-going US and Israel war on Iran.
While the ME war has reached in the second week and its flames are spreading to take the entire ME in its sphere.
In the given scenario , Pakistan is struggling to tighten its belt and minimise impact of ME crisis.
Prime minister , Shahbaz Sharif , held a several hours long meeting to shape – up his austerity plan and come – up with a saving face to justify the last week’s historic surge in the oil prices.
Later , the prime minister addressed to the nation to present his government ‘s strategy on ME war and its potential impact on Pakistan. He presented a detailed view of his government on the crisis. The ME war has jolted Pakistan’s economy as its major oil component is met with imported oil which has become costly by 50 % in just one week of the war.
Prime minister , Shahbaz Sharif , told his countrymen that ME war has pushed the entire world in the difficult position and Pakistan is not an exception . After giving long details of Pakistan’s efforts aimed at finding a negotiated solution to the ME war, he unveiled details of his austerity plan. Giving details of his austerity plan , Shahbaz Sharif said his government has introduced a set of measures to mitigate the impact of the ME war. He said the government officials will function for four days a week. The schools will remain closed for a fortnight from the next week. The members of his cabinet will not get salaries for two months and 60 % official vehicles will remain off the road till ending of the ME crisis. He also announced the ban on officials functions and travel abroad for all government dictionaries , parliamentarians and ministers.
According to the prime minister , fuel quota of official vehicles will be cut by 50 percent and there will be no official Iftar / dinners in holy month of Ramzan. The prime minister claimed that his government is taking every possible effort to minimise the impact of rising oil prices in the international market.
Prior to the prime minister ‘s address to the nation , Punjab and Khyber Pukhtunkhaw (KPK) also announced austerity measures to avoid energy misuse in these testing time.
Both provincial governments have also banned foreign trips for officials and parliamentarians. Measures for energy conversation have also been announced by the Punjab and KPK governments. Its hoped that Sindh and Balochistan would follow the suit and announce austerity programme to off;-set huge negative impact of ME war on their respective provinces.
