The federal government has banned the creation of new posts and the purchase of all types of vehicles, as well as limiting any outstation meetings via internet linkages (Zoom etc).
The move is part of a slew of new austerity measures enacted in response to the current fiscal year’s budget restrictions.
While announcing the new regulations, the Finance Ministry stated that the goal was to keep the government’s spending under control.
In an office memorandum, the ministry of finance declared, “There shall be a complete restriction on the purchase of all sorts of vehicles, both for current and development expenditure, excluding motorbikes, student buses, ambulances, and fire fighting vehicles.”
Furthermore, save for those essential for development initiatives and approved by the relevant authority, the creation of new posts in government departments will be prohibited.
The office memorandum said that “privilege of periodical, magazines, newspapers, and other publications to the entitled officers would be limited to only one.”
It went on to say that Principal Accounting Officers (PAOs) would rationalise utility consumption, such as power, gas, telephone, and water. Meanwhile, costs for asset acquisition, repair and maintenance, and all other operational costs will be maintained to a bare minimum.
In all official communications, the ministry was told to use both sides of the paper. Meanwhile, all outstation meetings are limited to internet connections (zoom, etc.) unless a significant need for physical presence exists and is allowed by the competent authorities.
