Punjab government has saved rupees nine billion through austerity and simplicity drive during the current year and this drive would continue. Senior Advisor to Chief Minister, Sirdar Zulifqar Ali Khosa said this while presiding over the meeting of Provincial Austerity Committee, here Tuesday.
The senior advisor said Punjab government ensured fiscal discipline at every level so that maximum resources could be made available for public welfare oriented projects. He pointed out that for the first time in the history of Punjab government, rupees 2.8 billion were saved under the head of current expenditures while with restructuring of various departments and abolishing unnecessary posts, over rupees six billion would be saved.
He stressed that departments should follow fiscal discipline and spend their expenditures according to their budgeted resources. He said that very positive and encouraging results are coming out from austerity steps taken by the Punjab government in every department. "We would not allow departments unnecessary expenditures but in emergency, departments can demand supplementary budget," he remarked.
Khosa directed concerned authorities not to approve such schemes or programmes during current fiscal year for which funds have not been allocated. He also directed that concerned secretaries of the departments should ensure their attendance in the meeting of Provincial Austerity Committee. Khawaja Salman Rafiq MPA, Secretary Finance Tariq Bajwa, Secretary Livestock Housing, Agriculture and other senior officers of various departments also attended the meeting.