New Austerity Measures: National Assembly Implements 50% Work from Home Policy

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Secretariat has officially enforced a new work-from-home policy alongside a series of strict austerity measures aimed at conserving fuel and reducing operational expenditures.

Under the new protocol, a 50-50 rotation roster will be implemented, allowing half of the staff to work from the office while the other half operates remotely. Remote employees must remain accessible via phone, email and WhatsApp, and can be called back to the office on a one-hour notice if required.

Employees working from home will not be entitled to daily allowances or overtime pay, and staff working remotely are strictly prohibited from leaving their designated duty station without prior permission from an authorized officer.

In addition to the remote work policy, the Secretariat has introduced sweeping spending cuts effective immediately and running until further notice. Fuel supply for official vehicles has been slashed by 50% for the next three months, and a complete ban has been placed on the purchase of new vehicles. Furthermore, the non-development budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year will face a mandatory 5% monthly reduction.

To further cut costs, all National Assembly sessions and standing committee meetings will preferably be conducted via video conferencing to minimize gathering expenses.

A three-month ban on all foreign tours has also been introduced, though exemptions apply to scholarships, training courses, international programs, and official bilateral agreements.

Official dinners, government-funded seminars, and conferences have been suspended, except for official foreign delegations, and any unavoidable events must utilize internal auditoriums and government facilities only. Finally, a ban has been imposed on the purchase of all durable goods (with the exception of IT equipment), and the secretariat is transitioning toward a paperless working environment.

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