Islamabad:

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has banned the use of red carpets at government events, reserving them only for diplomatic receptions as part of austerity measures to cut unnecessary spending in the cash-strapped country.

Sharif expressed dissatisfaction with the use of red carpets during the visits of federal ministers and senior government officials.

According to the cabinet department, red carpets are prohibited on instructions from the prime minister.

According to a notification issued by the Cabinet Department, the Prime Minister has directed that red carpets will not be used for federal ministers and government figures at official events in future. However, it can only be used as a protocol for foreign diplomats, The Express Tribune reported.

The decision to ban the red carpet was more than just a symbolic gesture. It represents a tangible effort to curb unnecessary spending and reallocate resources to more critical areas of governance.

By scrapping the red carpet, the government aims to save money and promote a more responsible and prudent approach to public finances.

Last week, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and members of his cabinet decided to voluntarily waive wages and benefits as part of the government’s push for austerity policies.

Last month, the Prime Minister said austerity measures were the government’s top priority.

Earlier, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari decided not to receive salary and benefits due to the economic challenges faced by the country.

Earlier this month, Sharif was sworn in as prime minister for the second time since 2022 amid severe economic and security challenges.

Sharif said on Tuesday that his government was planning to approach the International Monetary Fund for “another plan” just days after the country reached a staff-level agreement with the IMF on a final $1.1 billion payment.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)