Pakistan, July 7 -- The federal government has decided to extend austerity measures into the current fiscal year, aiming to curb unnecessary public spending and control the budget deficit. The Ministry of Finance issued a fresh notification on Monday, reaffirming the cabinet's earlier decision from September 4, 2024.

As per the notification, all government vacancies that remained unfilled for the past three years are now permanently abolished. No new positions may be created without special approval. This move is part of a broader strategy to reduce the size of the bureaucracy and ensure only essential hiring.

The ban on purchasing vehicles, machinery, and equipment for government departments remains in force. This includes all categori...