LAHORE: Making a mockery of the recently-announced austerity policy, Shahbaz-led Punjab government has purchased 147 brand new double-cabin off-road vehicles for assistant commissioners, besides lifting a ban on recruitment that was imposed just a month ago.

The Punjab finance department had on Sept 14 issued austerity and economy measures for the financial year 2017-18 to impose financial discipline in the province by reducing expenditures.

Under the austerity policy a complete ban was imposed on procurement of new vehicles out of current and development budgets. But, within a month the finance department released Rs658.707 million for the purchase of 147 3,000cc four-wheel drive double-cabin diesel engine vehicles for assistant commissioners (ACs) across the province.

Similarly, the austerity policy had banned recruitment against vacant posts across Punjab and allowed only the chief minister to recruit officials during the current fiscal.

However, the department issued another austerity policy circular on Oct 16, deleting the clause slapping ban on recruitment and lifted the curb.

Quite surprisingly, the finance department did not lift the ban on purchase of locally assembled and imported new vehicles. But, on the very next day (on Oct 17) the department released Rs658.707 million for the purchase of vehicles for ACs.

Under the austerity policy, the Punjab government had only allowed the purchase of ambulances and operational vehicles for hospitals, except cars and jeeps. It had allowed the departments concerned to purchase tractors, dumpers, water bowsers, fire-fighting vehicles, besides flood relief and solid waste management equipment and vehicles.

The finance department officials say the austerity policy issued on Sept 14 and the fresh one on Oct 16 had empowered the Austerity Committee to give its concurrence and required subsequent approval of the chief minister to purchase new vehicles in emergency conditions. Sources, however, claimed that the process of justifying the purchase of new vehicles was not carried out afresh.

Punjab finance Secretary Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh said the approval for the purchase of double-cabin vehicles was granted during the previous financial year, but the project was delayed due to the government’s financial constraints.

Since the province was now in better financial position, the government allowed the purchase of these vehicles, he explained.

Giving the rationale, he said the decision to purchase heavy vehicles was taken to reduce operational and maintenance cost because the 1000cc cars previously allowed to ACs required frequent repairs and maintenance.

“In the long term, these heavy vehicles will prove economical and cost-effective,” he claimed.

The secretary said almost all vehicles given to ACs were in a state of disrepair and the officers had to borrow vehicles from local government and other departments to perform their field duties.

In the second phase, he said, the government would also purchase vehicles for commissioners and deputy commissioners. He said the old vehicles under the use of ACs would be auctioned.

About lifting recruitment ban, the sources said the government had taken the decision in view of 2018 general election.

Meanwhile, Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly, Mian Mahmoodur Rasheed, has chided the chief minister for negating his own austerity claims by purchasing 700 luxury vehicles during the past seven years. He said the chief minister also purchased a helicopter worth billions of rupees for his personal use.

He also mentioned 2,752 security officials deployed at the three secretariats of the chief minister, besides a cavalcade comprising 125 vehicles for his security, to substantiate his stance.

“The chief minister is spending Rs1.19 billion annually from public money for the Sharif family’s security,” the opposition leader alleged.

Published in Dawn, October 19th, 2017