- Govt official says spending taxpayers’ money on security is not against austerity
Talking about the recently bought bullet-proof cars, a government spokesman said the country’s premier civilian intelligence agency needed the cars to provide security to foreign dignitaries during their visits.
The bullet-proof vehicles bought by the previous governments had to be replaced as their condition depleted over a period of time.
Regarding exemption from taxes granted for the purchase of these security vehicles, it was explained that this was meant to minimise expenses from public exchequer and there was no violation of rules.
He also said the financial discipline introduced by Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar needed to be praised because the discretionary funds of the PM and ministers have been abolished for the first time in the country’s history. The secret funds of the federal ministries were also abolished, he added.
The government imposed a 40 percent cut in non-salary expenditure of the PM’s Office and 30 percent cut in the federal ministries in the current fiscal year. The prudent austerity measures have helped in curbing the fiscal deficit to 4 percent during July 2013 to April 2014 as compared to 5.5 percent in the corresponding period of the last financial year.
The spokesman emphasised that spending money from national exchequer for security was not against austerity. Saving public money, good governance and zero tolerance for corruption remains hallmark of the government in line with the vision of PML-N leadership, he added.
Of course he loves his life!
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