Pakistan's prime minister has imposed a ban on the usage of purple carpets at official occasions, a transfer seen as one other small step in the direction of curbing extravagant spending on the authorities degree.
The choice, taken by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, comes amid critical financial challenges confronted by the South Asian nuclear powerhouse, native media reported on Saturday.
The federal government issued a notification specifying that the usage of the purple carpet can be restricted to protocol functions solely at diplomatic occasions.
Earlier, Sharif and his cupboard voluntarily determined to surrender their salaries and perks.
President Asif Ali Zardari selected to not take a wage to indicate solidarity within the face of the nation's financial challenges.
Weeks after taking workplace, Sharif introduced austerity measures to cut back authorities spending.
The measures embrace a ban on the acquisition of luxurious automobiles, a requirement that ministers journey economic system class and pay their very own utility payments and a requirement to not keep in five-star accommodations.
Lately, Pakistan has struggled with rising costs and a faltering economic system. Excessive inflation, fueled by the ever-increasing costs of electrical energy and petroleum merchandise, is among the many challenges the federal government is making an attempt to resolve.
Pakistan has sought bailouts from the Worldwide Financial Fund (IMF) a number of instances, however the circumstances connected to the company's help are nonetheless unpopular.
Final yr, the IMF pulled Pakistan's economic system from the brink amid default fears with a short-term rescue package deal of $3 billion.
As this system nears its finish, the newly elected authorities plans to hunt one other mortgage of no less than $6 billion from the IMF.
