No official dinners, foreign travel: Pak rolls out austerity measures amid fuel shock

Pakistan on Thursday announced a fresh set of austerity measures, including a 50 per cent cut in fuel allocations for government vehicles and a ban on official foreign travel and the purchase of new government vehicles. The measures come as rising global oil prices threaten fuel, gas and power supplies.The measures, approved by the Pakistan cabinet, will remain in force for three months as the government seeks to reduce fuel consumption and public expenditure.Under the new restrictions, markets will have to close by 9 pm, while marriage halls can operate until 10 pm and restaurants until 11 pm.