MoF violates its own directives: Rs 205 million supplementary grants released for purchase of new cars

The Ministry of Finance violated its own directives by releasing Rs 205 million as supplementary grants to various ministries for purchase of new vehicles for Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries. On September 15, 2104, the federal government announced its new austerity plan, and imposed a ban on the purchase of new vehicles, new recruitments and restricted the official lunches and dinners in a bid to control the soaring expenditures.
The budget document 2015-16 reveals that the Cabinet Division purchased 10 Toyota Land Cruiser (Armoured) against Rs 150 million as well as 20 Toyota Corolla Cars 1300cc for official use of the parliamentary secretaries which cost the exchequer Rs 36 million. Ministry of Communication also spent Rs 7.6 million out of supplementary grants on purchase of two Toyota Vigo 2500cc. One vehicle has been in use by Minister for State for Communication and one by Minister of State for Postal Service Department. The budget document further reveals that Housing and Works Division purchased a Rs 4.3 million Toyota Double Cabin for security purpose of Federal Minister for Housing and Works.
Religious Affairs and Inter Faith Harmony Division also spent Rs 7 million from supplementary grants for purchase of two double Cabin vehicles for security purposes of Federal Minister and Minister of State. The Finance Ministry through a notification announced a five point austerity plan for the ongoing fiscal year 2014-15 in a bid to control soaring expenditures to be effective immediately. Supplementary grants are given to ministries for their unforeseen expenditure which are not covered under annual budget.