Expenditure Reduction Federal Government Imposes Ban on New Vehicles, Foreign Travel, and Non-Essential Spending

In a bid to rein in soaring expenses, the federal government has unveiled a sweeping austerity package, imposing a blanket ban on new recruitments, foreign travel, and luxury spending.

According to a circular issued by the finance ministry, all vacant posts in federal government institutions will be abolished, and no new hiring will be allowed except for temporary positions that exceed a year. The move is aimed at streamlining the bloated federal workforce and trimming unnecessary expenses.

The austerity measures also include a complete ban on foreign trips for government officials, except for essential travel approved by the prime minister. Additionally, the purchase of all new vehicles at government expense has been frozen, with exemptions only for buses used for ambulances, medical aid, and educational institutions.

However, the ban on new machinery and equipment will not apply to hospitals, laboratories, and educational institutions, which will be allowed to procure essential items. The federal government’s austerity drive is seen as a desperate bid to shore up the country’s finances and stave off a looming economic crisis. With the economy reeling from soaring inflation and a widening budget deficit, the government has been forced to take drastic measures to cut costs and restore fiscal discipline.