In view of the unusual hike in the prices of petroleum products in the country during the last couple of weeks, the chief minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has decided to reduce the POL expenditure of the all provincial government departments and semi government institutions by levying 35% cut in their POL expenses.
The decision has taken been as an immediate step under the pre-existing austerity policy of the provincial government in the larger public interest. Chief Minister’s Secretariat has issued a letter to this effect to the chief secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with the directive to take necessary steps for immediate implementation of the decision. The letter states that excessive and unusual increase in the petroleum products prices has put additional pressure on the resources of the provincial government, therefore, it was dire need of the hour to reduce the POL expenditure of the provincial government and semi government departments, institutes and agencies. It was also directed in the letter to have an effective monitory mechanism to ensure the implementation of chief minister’s decision in letter and spirit.
It merits a mention here that this decision will save the provincial exchequer an amount of Rs. 125.00 million per month and Rs. 1.5 billion per year.
It is pertinent to mention here that the provincial government was already pursuing its austerity measures under which various steps were being taken to reduce the expenses of the provincial government.
