Islamabad (Izhar Khan Niazi)

The Chairman Senate informed the House that the Senate Secretariat has returned Rs 1.436 billion to the national treasury under a comprehensive austerity and expenditure reduction program. This amount constitutes approximately 15.9 percent of the Senate’s total budget.

According to the Chairman Senate, the savings are nearly 500 percent higher than the target set by the Finance Division. He stated that these savings were achieved through the suspension of unnecessary expenditures, reductions in operational costs, restrictions on official transportation and foreign visits, and increased use of digital platforms.

He further said that although Rs 60 million had been allocated in the current fiscal year for the purchase of official vehicles, not a single vehicle was purchased. In addition, the Senate Finance Committee has agreed to forgo the allocation earmarked for replacing condemned vehicles in the next fiscal year, which will result in additional savings of approximately Rs 140 million.

The Chairman Senate said that these are real and practical savings that reflect a commitment to transparency, accountability, and the responsible use of public resources. He added that, given the current economic conditions, it is essential for Parliament to set an example.

Expressing gratitude to the honorable members of the Senate and the Senate Finance Committee for their cooperation in achieving this milestone, he said that the initiative demonstrates a collective commitment to prioritizing national interests over institutional conveniences.