Punjab Assembly Secretariat saves Rs 770m under austerity drive

LAHORE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Apr, 2026) Punjab Assembly (PA) Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said on Saturday that PA Secretariat had achieved savings of Rs 770 million under the austerity campaign launched in line with the directives of the Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz.

According to a press release issued here, the amount has been deposited in the national exchequer. The savings were realised after a comprehensive review of expenditures and implementation of a series of cost-cutting measures across the assembly secretariat.

Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan had already announced that he would not draw his salary or avail any official perks and privileges. As part of a policy of simplicity in official protocol, priority was also given to the use of personal vehicles. Under the austerity measures, deductions were made from the salaries of Members of the Punjab Assembly, while officers in Grade-20 and above contributed two days’ salary towards the campaign.

Fuel expenses of official vehicles were reduced by 50 per cent, resulting in significant savings.

The austerity campaign also led to a substantial reduction in electricity consumption, with more than 111,000 electricity units saved in just two months, reflecting the positive impact of these measures.

A complete ban was imposed on unnecessary purchases and no new procurement was undertaken.

Official foreign visits were suspended, while expenditures on official events and entertainment were significantly curtailed.

Meetings of Standing Committees were also held through teleconferencing to further reduce operational costs.

These measures have produced notable results, with the Punjab Assembly Secretariat’s Rs 770 million savings being seen as a strong example of financial discipline, prudent resource management and institutional commitment to supporting the government’s austerity agenda.