Pakistan PM Slashes State Firm Salaries by 30% Amid Fuel Crisis, Austerity Drive

• PM Shehbaz Sharif approved 5-30% salary cuts for employees of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and autonomous institutions.
• Measures are part of a broader austerity drive to tackle economic fallout from the US-Israel-Iran conflict-triggered fuel crisis.
• Savings generated from these austerity measures will be exclusively used for public relief.
• Other steps include a third-party audit for 50% fuel allocation reduction for government vehicles and 60% vehicles off roads in two months.
• Cabinet members' two months' salaries will also be used for public welfare; ban on foreign visits for officials remains.