Ministries to be reduced to 30, cabinet meeting approves

Federal Cabinet has decided to reduce the number of ministries to 30 whereas foreign visits of President and Prime Minister by 40 percent. Privilege of performing Hajj pilgrimage on government expenses has also been abolished while consensus could not be reached on two weekly offs, reported Dunya News on Wednesday.The federal cabinet met in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani to discuss recommendations made by Austerity Committee to reduce governments expenditures. Talking to media after the meeting Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin told that the meeting decided that the convoy of President and PM will consist of 7 vehicles whereas convoy of Governors and CMs will consist of 6 vehicles. Federal Ministers convoy will have only two vehicles and they are urged to use 1800cc whereas provincial ministers to use 1600cc vehicles. President and Prime Ministers foreign visits will be reduced by 40 percent while visits of Federal Ministers will be reduced by 30 percent. The utility bills allowance of Ministers, CMs, Governors and Prime Minister House will be cut down by 25 percent. Only one dish will be allowed in official meals. The cabinet approved all the recommendations of Austerity Committee except two weekly offs. All the privileges and facilities of Bureaucracy will be abolished and they would receive cash compensation. Furniture in government offices will not be changed before 10 years. Shaukat Tarin told that a committee is being established for implementation of these decisions with a time frame of three months.