Across India, political and administrative leaders are reportedly adopting austerity-style measures inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cost-cutting approach. From reduced government expenditure to symbolic restraint in official protocols, the trend signals a wider push for fiscal discipline amid economic challenges.


India Austerity Measures: Leaders Across India Emulate PM Modi's Austerity Measures

Cash-strapped Pakistan, which is looking for ways to rein in inflation and save electricity, has announced a series of austerity measures to tackle the nationwide fuel crisis.

Among the significant measures were the curtailment of overseas trips for officials, fuel quotas for government employees to be cut by 40 per cent, and reimposing five-day workweek.

The move comes at a time when the South Asian country is hit by hours-long power outages, with demand outstripping supply during the peak summer months. Soaring global fuel prices have also increased pressure on the external account and the local currency has hit record lows against the dollar.

Apart from that, announcements were made to stop purchases of new vehicles for use by officials and appliances such as air conditioners.

Speaking to reporters, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said the nation is aiming to lower energy consumption at government offices by 10 per cent.

Lunches, dinners and high teas will no longer be served to officials, and the government will also consider&nbsp;making&nbsp;Friday a mandatory work-from-home day for its employees.

Watch |&nbsp;Climate Change Impact: 'Pakistan to become water-scarce country'

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Aurangzeb said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had formed a committee to determine how “efficiency is not affected” and how the government “may benefit from it in an effective manner”.

Discussions are being carried out with to switch off streetlights on alternate days.

“A complete ban has been imposed on official visits by government officials, functionaries and ministries. Only obligatory visits and very important bilateral visits will be allowed,” she said, adding that a committee would decide the importance of each visit before giving approval.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-needs-usd-41-billion-in-next-12-months-says-finance-minister-486098" hreflang="en">Pakistan needs USD 41 billion in next 12 months, says finance minister</a>

Aurangzeb said there was currently a gap of 4,600 megawatts between supply and demand, with supply at 21,000 megawatts and demand at 25,600 megawatts.

In the wake of soaring energy prices, Pakistan is facing a balance of payment crisis with forex reserves falling below $10 billion, enough for around 45 days of imports, as well as double-digit inflation.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Cash-strapped Pakistan, which is looking for ways to rein in inflation and save electricity, has announced a series of austerity measures to tackle the nationwide fuel crisis.

Cash-strapped Pakistan, which is looking for ways to rein in inflation and save electricity, has announced a series of austerity measures to tackle the nationwide fuel crisis. Among the significant measures were the curtailment of overseas trips for officials, fuel quotas for government employees to be cut by 40 per cent, and reimposing five-day workweek. The move comes at a time when the South Asian country is hit by hours-long power outages, with demand outstripping supply during the peak summer months. Soaring global fuel prices have also increased pressure on the external account and the local currency has hit record lows against the dollar. Apart from that, announcements were made to stop purchases of new vehicles for use by officials and appliances such as air conditioners. Speaking to reporters, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said the nation is aiming to lower energy consumption at government offices by 10 per cent. Lunches, dinners and high teas will no longer be served to officials, and the government will also consider making Friday a mandatory work-from-home day for its employees. Watch | Climate Change Impact: 'Pakistan to become water-scarce country' Aurangzeb said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had formed a committee to determine how “efficiency is not affected” and how the government “may benefit from it in an effective manner”. Discussions are being carried out with to switch off streetlights on alternate days. “A complete ban has been imposed on official visits by government officials, functionaries and ministries. Only obligatory visits and very important bilateral visits will be allowed,” she said, adding that a committee would decide the importance of each visit before giving approval. Also read | Pakistan needs USD 41 billion in next 12 months, says finance minister Aurangzeb said there was currently a gap of 4,600 megawatts between supply and demand, with supply at 21,000 megawatts and demand at 25,600 megawatts. In the wake of soaring energy prices, Pakistan is facing a balance of payment crisis with forex reserves falling below $10 billion, enough for around 45 days of imports, as well as double-digit inflation. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Cash-strapped Pakistan announces austerity measures as soaring energy cost, inflation bite hard

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alberto-fernandez-wins-argentina-presidential-election-258405">President-elect Alberto Fernandez</a> said Tuesday he will make good on Argentina's debt payments but without new austerity measures because people in his country are already hard-pressed financially.

"We cannot make more fiscal adjustments because the situation is enormously complicated," Fernandez, a centre-left Peronist, said in a statement after speaking with IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva.

Fernandez's predecessor Mauricio Macri last year negotiated a $57 billion bailout from the IMF to halt a devastating currency skid.

The economy is in recession and expected to shrink by 3.1 per cent this year, according to the IMF. More than a third of the population lives below the poverty line. Inflation is running at 42 per cent.

Watch: Alberto Fernandez wins presidency

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Fernandez, with former president Cristina Kirchner as his running mate, defeated Macri in October elections.

The return of the Peronists had prompted fears that Argentina might not live up to its debt obligations.

The government has important debt payments coming up next year, both principal and interest.

The government says that as of the second quarter of this year Argentina's debt totalled $336 billion, or 80 per cent of GDP.

President-elect Alberto Fernandez said Tuesday he will make good on Argentina's debt payments but without new austerity measures because people in his country are already hard-pressed financially.

President-elect Alberto Fernandez said Tuesday he will make good on Argentina's debt payments but without new austerity measures because people in his country are already hard-pressed financially. "We cannot make more fiscal adjustments because the situation is enormously complicated," Fernandez, a centre-left Peronist, said in a statement after speaking with IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva. Fernandez's predecessor Mauricio Macri last year negotiated a $57 billion bailout from the IMF to halt a devastating currency skid. The economy is in recession and expected to shrink by 3.1 per cent this year, according to the IMF. More than a third of the population lives below the poverty line. Inflation is running at 42 per cent. Watch: Alberto Fernandez wins presidency Fernandez, with former president Cristina Kirchner as his running mate, defeated Macri in October elections. The return of the Peronists had prompted fears that Argentina might not live up to its debt obligations. The government has important debt payments coming up next year, both principal and interest. The government says that as of the second quarter of this year Argentina's debt totalled $336 billion, or 80 per cent of GDP.

Argentina's President-elect vows to make good on debt without austerity measures

The All India Congress Committee has instituted as an austerity measure committee to tighten its belt on expenditure. The letter signed by General Secretary Administration Motilal Vora has been circulated to all the office holders of the All India Congress Committee.&nbsp;

The letter states that General Secretaries who are the members of Parliament should not claim travel allowance from the AICC. The letter also states that the expenses on canteen expenditure, newspaper and computer peripherals should be minimized by the office holders.&nbsp;

The letter further states that one staff member of the General Secretary must submit weekly expenditure to the office of the treasurer. 
&nbsp; 
The AICC members have also been requested to save power. The letter states that electrical gadgets must be switched off whenever office holders are out of office and they must ensure that staff cars are not misused.

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The AICC secretaries have also been asked to stay put in their assigned states for more than 15 to 20 days. The party has also decided to shift their offices to the respective states.&nbsp;They will only be provided with working stations in Delhi.

The drastic change in the AICC stands in stark contrast to the way Congress functioned under UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Today, the AICC officeholders are expected to travel by air only when the distance is more than 1400kms, this facility would be limited to twice in a month. 
&nbsp; 
This is part and parcel of larger tightening of the belt by the AICC. The party, lately, has also gone in for crowdfunding.

The All India Congress Committee has instituted as an austerity measure committee to tighten its belt on expenditure. The letter signed by General Secretary Administration Motilal Vora has been circulated to all the office holders of the All India Congress Committee.

The All India Congress Committee has instituted as an austerity measure committee to tighten its belt on expenditure. The letter signed by General Secretary Administration Motilal Vora has been circulated to all the office holders of the All India Congress Committee. The letter states that General Secretaries who are the members of Parliament should not claim travel allowance from the AICC. The letter also states that the expenses on canteen expenditure, newspaper and computer peripherals should be minimized by the office holders. The letter further states that one staff member of the General Secretary must submit weekly expenditure to the office of the treasurer. The AICC members have also been requested to save power. The letter states that electrical gadgets must be switched off whenever office holders are out of office and they must ensure that staff cars are not misused. The AICC secretaries have also been asked to stay put in their assigned states for more than 15 to 20 days. The party has also decided to shift their offices to the respective states. They will only be provided with working stations in Delhi. The drastic change in the AICC stands in stark contrast to the way Congress functioned under UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Today, the AICC officeholders are expected to travel by air only when the distance is more than 1400kms, this facility would be limited to twice in a month. This is part and parcel of larger tightening of the belt by the AICC. The party, lately, has also gone in for crowdfunding.

AICC tightens belt, institutes austerity measure on expenditure 

The Pakistani premier's house milked its livestock reserves Thursday as dozens gathered for a buffalo auction in the capital Islamabad, in the latest push for Prime Minister Imran Khan's highly publicised austerity drive.

A total of eight buffalos were auctioned off for nearly 2.3 million rupees ($19,000) at the prime minister's residence, as Khan's new administration aims to cut expenditure and increase revenue collection to boost Pakistan's struggling economy.

"The auction was not just good. It was very, very good," said government official Javaid Iqbal, who oversaw the sale.

An auctioneer shouted prices to a crowd carrying stacks of rupees in the residence's backyard, where the shiny, black buffalos for sale were tied to nearby trees.

The animals were purchased in 2014 by the government of ousted premier Nawaz Sharif, with supporters of the erstwhile leader flocking to the auction and paying several times the market price for a piece of history.

"I bought a buffalo for 300,000 rupees, which is three times higher than the market price. But I am happy because it's a memory tied to my leader Nawaz Sharif," Malik Tayyib Nawaz told AFP.

Sharif -- who was removed from office last year by the Supreme Court for alleged corruption -- was freed from prison earlier this month after being jailed weeks ahead of July elections.

However, others at the auction complained of the high prices.

"A common man like me cannot afford to buy them," said Zameer Khan, who travelled to the event with the hope of netting a buffalo but left empty handed.

Khan was elected in July on promises to cut excessive government spending and build an Islamic welfare state in the impoverished South Asian nation.

As part of the ongoing austerity drive, Pakistan has auctioned off dozens of luxury vehicles belonging to the prime minister's house and also launched a crowdfunding campaign to build a dam in the country's north.

The Pakistani premier's house milked its livestock reserves Thursday as dozens gathered for a buffalo auction in the capital Islamabad, in the latest push for Prime Minister Imran Khan's highly publicised austerity drive.

The Pakistani premier's house milked its livestock reserves Thursday as dozens gathered for a buffalo auction in the capital Islamabad, in the latest push for Prime Minister Imran Khan's highly publicised austerity drive. A total of eight buffalos were auctioned off for nearly 2.3 million rupees ($19,000) at the prime minister's residence, as Khan's new administration aims to cut expenditure and increase revenue collection to boost Pakistan's struggling economy. "The auction was not just good. It was very, very good," said government official Javaid Iqbal, who oversaw the sale. An auctioneer shouted prices to a crowd carrying stacks of rupees in the residence's backyard, where the shiny, black buffalos for sale were tied to nearby trees. The animals were purchased in 2014 by the government of ousted premier Nawaz Sharif, with supporters of the erstwhile leader flocking to the auction and paying several times the market price for a piece of history. "I bought a buffalo for 300,000 rupees, which is three times higher than the market price. But I am happy because it's a memory tied to my leader Nawaz Sharif," Malik Tayyib Nawaz told AFP. Sharif -- who was removed from office last year by the Supreme Court for alleged corruption -- was freed from prison earlier this month after being jailed weeks ahead of July elections. However, others at the auction complained of the high prices. "A common man like me cannot afford to buy them," said Zameer Khan, who travelled to the event with the hope of netting a buffalo but left empty handed. Khan was elected in July on promises to cut excessive government spending and build an Islamic welfare state in the impoverished South Asian nation. As part of the ongoing austerity drive, Pakistan has auctioned off dozens of luxury vehicles belonging to the prime minister's house and also launched a crowdfunding campaign to build a dam in the country's north.

Cash cows: Pakistan PM's house auctions buffalos for austerity

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