FAISALABAD: In light of the directives of the Government of Pakistan and the instructions of the Cabinet Division, Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) has initiated the implementation of comprehensive austerity and cost-reduction measures. These steps are being enforced under the directions issued by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, with the objective of improving financial discipline and ensuring the efficient use of national resources. In this regard, the FESCO administration has grounded 405 vehicles used across various offices for a period of two months. During this period, the issuance of Petrol, oil, and lubricants (POL) for these vehicles will be completely banned. In case of any violation, the concerned officer will be held responsible. The responsibility for parking these grounded vehicles in secure locations and maintaining them has been assigned to the respective drivers. Furthermore, the use of fuel for other operational vehicles has also been restricted, allowing only up to 50% of the monthly POL consumption. This measure aims to conserve fuel and reduce unnecessary expenditures. Similarly, under the Government of Pakistan’s austerity policy, FESCO employees have been barred from submitting TA/DA (Travel Allowance/Daily Allowance) claims, and such payments have been suspended until further orders. Any essential travel will require prior approval from the relevant authority. FESCO has also imposed a ban on all physical meetings, directing that meetings be conducted online. Additionally, official visits and travel activities have been restricted to further cut down expenses. Moreover, a notification has been issued declaring Friday as a weekly holiday in FESCO. It has also been decided that 50% of the staff will work physically from offices, while the remaining 50% will work from home. Under broader austerity measures introduced by the government, a temporary reduction in the salaries of senior government officials has also been announced. According to the plan, a 5% deduction will be applied to salaries ranging from 300,000 to 1,000,000 rupees; 15% for salaries between 1,000,000 and 2,000,000 rupees; 25% for salaries between 2,000,000 and 3,000,000 rupees; and 30% for salaries exceeding 3,000,000 rupees. These deductions will remain in effect for two months, and the collected amount will be spent on public welfare projects. All these measures have been implemented with the approval of FESCO Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Muhammad Amer. In this regard, FESCO spokesperson Muhammad Saeed Raza stated that the purpose of these policies is to ensure the effective utilization of the organization’s financial resources, reduce unnecessary expenditures, and allocate maximum resources for public welfare projects. FESCO management has directed all officers and employees to strictly comply with these measures and promote austerity in the national interest. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026