Pakistani PM, Cabinet members to forgo salaries in line with govt's austerity drive

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and federal government ministers have voluntarily decided to forgo their salaries and perks as part of the austerity measures introduced by the cabinet to cut public spending, TASS reports citing Pakistan Today daily.

Earlier this week, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari also refused to accept salaries and perks, saying he had "decided not to overburden the national exchequer with ex-officio payments from the state".

The introduction of austerity measures was one of the first steps taken by Pakistan's new federal government, led by Sharif, which was formed after parliamentary elections in February.

On Monday, the cabinet restricted foreign travel by ministers and government officials and introduced new rules for their stay abroad in a bid to save the national budget. Under the new rules, federal and state ministers, their advisers and aides will be allowed to travel abroad no more than three times a year, and only with the permission of a government committee that ensures austerity in the state budget, as well as the foreign and interior ministries. They are banned from staying in five-star hotels when travelling abroad. Pakistani embassies abroad have been advised to involve diplomats as much as possible in international forums and events, which should help reduce the need for ministers and departmental officials to travel to attend them.