Punjab Cuts Ministers’ and Officers’ Petrol Allowances by 50%

In response to the ongoing fuel crisis and global uncertainties, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced a series of bold measures aimed at easing economic pressures and ensuring essential services continue without undue strain on citizens.

To conserve fuel and minimize government spending, the Punjab government has slashed official petrol and diesel allowances for ministers and senior officials by 50%. Furthermore, only one vehicle will be allowed to accompany ministers and senior officers for unavoidable security reasons, and protocol vehicles for non-essential trips will be restricted. The Chief Minister emphasized that government operations will remain unaffected, with the exception of additional support staff, who will have restricted movement.

“Office operations will continue, and only additional support staff will have restricted movement,” Maryam Nawaz said, stressing that public-facing services under initiatives like “e-Business” and “Maryam Ki Dastak” would remain fully operational.

In addition to the fuel restrictions, the Punjab government has introduced work-from-home policies for government offices, with only essential staff required to report for duty. Educational institutions, including schools, colleges, and universities, will remain closed until March 31, though exams will proceed as scheduled. Online classes may be conducted to ensure that students continue their education uninterrupted.

In terms of public gatherings, the government has banned all outdoor events, including cultural celebrations such as the Horse and Cattle Show, as part of efforts to reduce the economic burden on citizens. People have been urged to avoid late-night shopping, refrain from unnecessary purchases, and not hoard essential items.

To stabilize the market, the Punjab government has formed district-level fuel monitoring committees and tasked the Pakistan Institute of Technology and Business (PITB) with developing a Track and Trace system for petroleum products. Strict monitoring of transport fares and the supply of essential goods will be enforced, with legal action against anyone found guilty of overcharging.

The Chief Minister also appealed to the private sector to implement work-from-home policies and suspend non-essential events. She warned that authorities would take firm action against anyone exploiting the crisis for personal gain.

Maryam Nawaz praised the decisive leadership of the Prime Minister and military, emphasizing that resilient nations face challenges with unity and wisdom, and vowed that those exploiting the situation would face strict consequences.