In view of the financial constraints better annual federal and provincial budgets could not have been presented than the ones presented during the past few days in the national and provincial assemblies of the country. The former president of Pakistan Ghulam Ishaque Khan used to advise government mandarins to observe austerity in governmental spending as currency notes are not grown on trees. There is a need to bridge the tremendous gap in pay scales of VVIPs both in the legislative and executive bodies and those belonging to lower echelon in various governmental sectors .
We will never be able to get rid of IMF loans unless we learn to cut our coat according to our cloth,. It seems that like the Bourbons we have hitherto learnt nothing and forgotten nothing. Lavish expenditure is the order of the day in official and private gatherings of this country. If their Indian counterparts can use small sized official cars why should our ministers and those officials entitled of government transport could not do the same. The size of the official delegations accompanying the VVIPs on foreign trips could be drastically reduced instead of taking along with them hangers on and freeloaders on foreign tours. Commercial flights could be used for the purpose instead of going in chartered planes. Why can’t our prime minister and president live in small official residences like the 10 Downing Street where England ‘s PM lives and hold office also.
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