APD | Pakistan gov’t bans discretionary funds of PM and President

By APD writer Muhammad Sohail

ISLAMABAD, Aug 25 (APD) – Pakistani cabinet in a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair on Friday decided to ban the use of discretionary funds of the president, premier and member of the parliament in view of the new government’s austerity drive.

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry described the move as “a historic decision” and claimed that the previous government had used Rs51 billion (418 million US dollars) in discretionary funds in the last year alone, of which Rs21bn was used by former PM Nawaz Sharif, while Rs30bn was given to the parliamentarians.

Chaudhry described the act of spending money impulsively as “contempt of taxpayers’ money”.

He added that before any infrastructural project is announced, it would be discussed in Parliament and then the expenditure would be made.

Chaudhry also said that it had been decided that Prime Minister Imran Khan would not use the special plane provided to premier for foreign visits, nor would he travel first class.

Instead, he will choose to travel in “club class”, Chaudhry said, referring to a class of air travel that is below first class, but higher than economy class. He added that all ministers would also travel in club class.

Along with the prime minister, the president, foreign minister, the Senate chairman, and national assembly speaker will no longer have the prerogative of flying first class, the minister added.

All the ministers have been bounded to take permission from the prime minister before planning for any foreign visit.

Since Imran Khan took charge of the Pakistani government as premier earlier this month, he has introduced strict austerity measures to save the national exchequer, a move which is being widely hailed in Pakistan.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)