Punjab Assembly cuts salaries, limits vehicles under austerity plan

The Punjab Assembly Secretariat has introduced a series of austerity measures as part of the government’s cost-reduction campaign, according to an official notification.

Under the measures, the speaker has relinquished his salary and official benefits, including government-provided fuel. The salaries and allowances of Members of the Punjab Assembly will be reduced by 25% for a period of two months.

The austerity plan includes restrictions on the use of government vehicles, with 70% of official vehicles to remain off the road and only 30% to be used for official duties. Protocol vehicle squads have also been banned.

Assembly sessions and standing committee meetings will be scheduled before sunset. If necessary, committee meetings may be conducted online, and their number will be kept limited.

The Punjab Assembly Secretariat will remain closed on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, except during assembly session days when routine work will continue.

During Ramazan, office hours will be from 9am to 3pm, while after Ramazan the working schedule will be from 9am to 5pm.

The notification also directs departments to reduce electricity consumption by 70%, with instructions to switch off unnecessary lights and electrical appliances.

The secretariat has also decided to shift towards paperless operations. New procurement has been suspended, with only essential purchases allowed for daily operational needs.

A ban on the purchase of new government vehicles will remain in place until June 2026. Official dinners and Iftar gatherings have also been prohibited except for events involving foreign delegations.

The secretariat further directed that 80% of its staff will perform their duties from home, with employees required to report to the office on one hour’s notice if needed. Staff working remotely will not receive honoraria or session allowances.