ISLAMABAD – The National Assembly and Senate of Pakistan have announced a series of fuel-saving and austerity measures, including work-from-home policy, aimed at reducing official expenditure and limiting non-essential spending.
Under the National Assembly Secretariat’s measures, 50 percent of staff will attend offices while the remaining 50 percent will work from home.
Employees working remotely will remain available through telephone, email and WhatsApp and may be required to report to the office on one hour’s notice.
Employees will also not be allowed to leave their station without prior permission from the competent authority.
The National Assembly Secretariat has announced a 50 percent reduction in fuel allocations for official vehicles for three months. The purchase of all types of vehicles has also been prohibited.
A five percent monthly reduction has been announced in the non-salary budget for the financial year 2026-27. Meetings will preferably be conducted through teleconferencing, with intra-city meetings exempted from the arrangement.
The number of meetings will also be kept to the minimum level as part of the austerity measures.
The Senate Secretariat has separately introduced additional measures. Fridays will be observed as work-from-home days when no Senate session is scheduled.
“Monday to Thursday shall be observed as physical working days, while Friday shall be observed as a work-from-home day during non-Session days,” read the notification.
Staff working from home will remain available through telephone, email and WhatsApp and will be required to report to the office on one hour’s notice when needed.
From Monday to Thursday, office hours at the Senate Secretariat will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Senate will also cut fuel allocations for official vehicles by 50 percent for three months and has imposed a complete ban on the purchase of vehicles. A five percent monthly cut has also been announced in the non-salary budget.
The Senate Secretariat said the number of meetings would be kept to the minimum level. Purchases of all items have been prohibited, with IT-related purchases exempted.
In addition, all foreign visits have been prohibited for three months. Official dinners have also been banned, except those arranged for foreign delegations.
