The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has adopted the federal government’s austerity drive, announcing a series of cost-cutting measures aimed at reducing expenditures across its offices, 24NewsHD TV reported on Tuesday.
According to a notification issued by the commission, ECP offices will now operate only four days a week, from Monday to Thursday, as part of the conservation measures.
The commission also directed that only 50 percent of the staff will attend the office during this period.
The ECP has further imposed restrictions on official travel, placing a ban on field visits from the secretariat and provincial offices unless absolutely necessary.
In addition, the fuel limit for official vehicles and fuel cards has been reduced by 50 percent.
Under the new policy, the use of general duty vehicles will require prior approval from the secretary, while the use of staff pick-and-drop transport will be reviewed and significantly limited.
The commission has also banned the use of protocol vehicles, allowing only one security vehicle in sensitive situations.
To conserve electricity, the ECP has directed its offices to avoid the use of generators and strictly implement power-saving measures. Air-conditioner usage has been cut by 50 percent and will only be permitted after 11 am.
The notification also stated that the purchase of new vehicles and other items will remain completely banned until June 2026 as part of the broader austerity campaign aimed at curbing government expenditures.