The National Assembly Secretariat has introduced fuel conservation and austerity measures as part of a broader cost-cutting programme, with 50% of its staff required to work from home on a rotational basis.
According to a notification issued by the Secretariat, the measures were approved by National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. They will take effect immediately and remain in force until further orders.
Under the new arrangement, 50% of employees will perform their duties at their respective workplaces, while the remaining staff will work from home according to rotational duty rosters.
The rosters will be prepared by the relevant wings and approved by the competent authority.
Employees working from home must remain available through telephone, email, WhatsApp and other communication channels during working hours.
They may also be directed by their reporting officers to reach the office within one hour when required.
The notification said employees working from home would not be entitled to diet allowance or overtime charges.
Staff members have also been directed not to leave their stations without prior permission from the competent authority.
Fuel, transport cuts
The National Assembly Secretariat will reduce fuel allocations for official vehicles by 50% for three months as part of the conservation measures.
The Secretariat has also imposed a complete ban on the purchase of new vehicles of all types.
A 5% reduction in the Non-Employee Related Expenditure (ERE) budget has also been approved for the entire financial year 2026-27.
The reduction will be implemented on a monthly basis.
Virtual meetings encouraged
The notification directed the Secretariat to hold meetings through teleconferencing wherever possible, except for intra-city meetings.
Standing Committee meetings will also be encouraged to take place virtually to reduce fuel consumption and other related expenses for members.
The number of meetings will be kept to the bare minimum until the situation returns to normal, according to the notification.
Ban on durable goods and foreign travel
The Secretariat has imposed a complete ban on the purchase of durable goods, except for IT-related procurement.
Foreign visits and travel have also been banned for three months, including obligatory visits.
However, exceptions have been made for scholarships offered by international development partners, training and courses arranged through the Economic Affairs Division, and programmes conducted under institutional agreements with the Government of Pakistan.
Official dinners and events restricted
The notification also prohibits official dinners, except those hosted for visiting foreign delegations.
Government-funded official seminars, training sessions and conferences have also been banned.
Where such events are unavoidable, the Secretariat has directed that government facilities, including auditoriums and committee rooms, should be used.
The National Assembly Secretariat will also move towards a paperless working environment to reduce spending on conventional office operations.
According to the notification, the austerity measures have been introduced in view of the prevailing global and regional situation.
