PM, cabinet members forgo salaries, perks amid austerity drive

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his cabinet members have decided to voluntarily forgo their salaries and other perks and privileges in line with the austerity drive of the government.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the federal cabinet which met in Islamabad chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

The cabinet also accorded approval for the formation of Pakistan International Airlines Holding Company, which is a significant step forward toward privatization of the national flag carrier.

The cabinet was briefed about the Staff Level Agreement with the International Monetary Fund by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb to revive the national economy and boost investors’ confidence.

PM Shehbaz said that Pakistan needs a new International Monetary Fund (IMF) program. He added that the global lender sought to expand the tax net. He said that the government will have to get rid of debt as more loans and debt are harmful to Pakistan.

The comments came after the IMF announced it had struck a staff-level agreement with Pakistan on the second and final review under the US $3 billion Stand-By Arrangement paving the way for the release of the last tranche of $1.1 billion from the lender.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on stressed that Pakistan will no longer tolerate cross-border terrorism following the Mir Ali attack in North Waziristan which martyred seven army soldiers.

“If the soil of a neighbouring country is used for terrorism then it will not be acceptable,” the prime minister told the federal cabinet meeting which was televised on state-run media.

Paying homage to the martyrs for fighting against terrorists, the PM said that the love of Pakistan Army soldiers for their country is priceless.

“We want to live in a peaceful environment with our neighbouring countries and want brotherly relations and trade with them,” said the prime minister.

PM Shehbaz hoped the rulers of neighbouring countries will unite and make the region peaceful. The meeting offered fateha and paid homage for those who embraced martyrdom in the recent terrorist incident in Mirali.

At least seven Pakistan Army soldiers including a lieutenant colonel and captain were martyred after gallantly fighting with terrorists after an attack on check post by security forces.

Pakistani forces carried out intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in the border regions inside Afghanistan against terrorists launching attacks from Afghan soil following the March 16 attack.