ISLAMABAD(National Times)- With no end in sight to the conflict in the Middle East, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday ordered that a countrywide austerity drive be extended until June 13.
Meanwhile, with rumours of a possible 28th Constitutional Amendment swirling, the premier and his team also met with President Asif Ali Zardari and his aides on Monday, even as both houses of parliament were in session.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Federal Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, and Senator Saleem Mandviwalla were also present at the meeting.
A source privy to developments told Dawn that if enacted, the 28th Amendment would entail “a complete rollback of the 18th Amendment”, which was introduced by the PPP-led government in 2010.
It is feared that this piece of legislation may envisage the return of subjects such as health, population, education, and mines & minerals from the provinces to the Centre, and lead to the re-introduction of the concurrent list.
Insiders say that President Zardari is not in favour of a fresh amendment, and wants to delay the issue at least until the announcement of the forthcoming federal budget, expected on June 8.
National Assembly officials said that once budget debate begins, no further legislation can be introduced until the process has ended.
However, an official readout issued by the Presidency did not make any mention of this proposed legislative package, simply saying that President Zardari and Prime Minister Shahbaz discussed overall situation of the country, matters related to Afghanistan and evolving situation in the region.
The meeting paid tribute to the martyrs of Marka-i-Haq, applauded the professional capabilities of the armed forces, and reaffirmed the unwavering commitment to national defence.
The president said despite difficult geographical and regional situation, tensions in the Middle East and disruption of supply chains, maximum relief should be provided to the people.
President Zardari directed that possible measures be taken to reduce inflationary pressures, ensure availability of essential goods and provide relief to the common man.
Austerity measures
“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,” said a Cabinet Division notification issued on Monday.
The measures extended include a 50 per cent reduction in fuel allowances for official vehicles, with exemptions for operational vehicles such as ambulances and public buses.
Other steps included grounding 60pc of official vehicles and a complete ban on foreign visits by ministers and government officials, excluding those deemed essential to the country’s interests, as specified previously.
“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.
Among the previously announced austerity measures, the working week for all government offices was reduced to four days, from Monday to Thursday.
However, the additional holiday was not availed by banks. It also did not apply to the agriculture and industrial sectors, or essential services such as hospitals and ambulance services.
On April 30, the premier also decided to extend fuel subsidies for motorcyclists, as well as public and goods transport, by one month.
The subsidies were part of the targeted relief measures announced for bikers, farmers, and transporters to cushion the impact of global oil price shocks amid the US-Israel war on Iran.
