Balochistan Government Announces Smart Lockdown, New Business Hours, and Immediate Austerity Measures
QUETTA: The Balochistan Government has officially announced a new package of austerity measures and targeted smart lockdown measures throughout the province, as part of its effort to ensure fiscal discipline, conserve energy and manage fuel resources.
The provincial administration’s official notification says all austerity measures come into effect right away. The sweeping measures are aimed at significantly reducing non-developmental spending by government and optimizing the use of public resources.
The following are important Austerity Measures and Restrictions:
Government Transport and Travel: Allocation of fuel to Government vehicles will be reduced by 50% for the next three months. In addition, the official purchase of new official vehicles and foreign trips by officials will be completely stopped.
Official Events: Official dinners, seminars and conferences have been called off. Administrative costs, outside of the salary and pension programs, will be cut by 5 percent automatically in all departments.
Social Events: The “one-dish” policy is now to be strictly enforced for all wedding and social events.
New timing for markets/commercial centers
The province government has also set new hours of operation for business establishments throughout the province in order to save energy:
Markets and Shopping Malls: Closing at 9:00 PM every day.
Marriage Halls: They should be closed at 10:00 PM.
Restaurants and eating establishments: Shall be closed at 11:00 PM.
Police explained that services such as pharmacies, hospital, petrol pumps and dairy shops will be entirely exempt of these time restrictions. District administrators have been asked to make sure districts adhere to the new business hours.