Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday extended the countrywide austerity drive till June 13.
The Middle East war, which began with US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28, has given rise to a global oil crisis. In order to deal with the situation, the government had announced unprecedented austerity measures on March 9.
A notification of the Cabinet Division, available with Dawn, said: “The prime minister, on consideration of the recommendations of the committee for monitoring and implementation of fuel conservation and additional austerity measures, has been pleased to extend the applicability of the following additional austerity measures up till 13th June, 2026 with immediate effect.”
The measures extended included 50 per cent reduction in fuel allowance for official vehicles, with the exemption of operational vehicles such as ambulances and public buses.
Other steps included the move to ground 60pc of official vehicles and a complete ban on foreign visits, excluding those as specified the last time, which were deemed essential for the country’s interests.
“Other additional austerity and fuel conservation measures, as notified from time to time vide this Division’s notifications of even number, shall continue to remain in force over the periods specified in the respective notifications,” the notification read.
“Measures in the case of which no period or end date has been specified, shall remain applicable till further orders,” it added.
More to follow