ISLAMABAD, (News Desk): Finance Minister (FM) Muhammad Aurangzeb has said government is pursuing policy of austerity and we have stopped bleeding of national kitty.

“We will decide about 400 subordinate institutions affiliated with 42 ministries by the end of fiscal year 2025. Reforms have been introduced with reference to pension for the first time in Pakistan, he said this while addressing a press conference along with members of rightsizing committee here Tuesday.
He held all the steps taken by government are heading towards right direction. We will take the country to a permanent growth and we have to change direction of national economy.

Reforms in taxation sector will be accomplished in December, he indicated, Im[act of what steps have been taken will trickle down to common man soon.
In June last year, Prime Minister (PM) had constituted a high level committee for rightsizing.

There were 400 subordinate institutions of institutions affiliated with federal government. Their expenses stood at billion of rupees.

Sharing the decisions taken over the past six months about the rightsizing, the Finance Minister said one hundred and fifty thousand vacant posts have been abolished after approval by the Federal Cabinet.
He said the general noncore services including gardening, cleaning and plumbing will be outsourced by the departments to bring more efficiency, while the contingency posts will also be reduced to some extent.
He made it clear that the Finance Ministry would have live visibility on the cash balances of all government entities.
He mentioned that in the phase one, decisions were taken with regard to six Ministries including Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan, SAFRON, IT and Telecom, Industries and Production, National Health Services and Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD).
He said Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit Baltistan have been merged while CADD has been abolished. The attached entities of these ministries have been reduced from eighty to forty.
He remarked that in the second phase, the Ministries of Science and Technology, Commerce, Housing and Works, National Food Security were considered. He mentioned out of sixty entities of these ministries, twenty-five will be wound up, twenty will be reduced and nine will be merged.
He said that implementation of these decisions will be ensured.
He said in the third phase, the recommendations relating to five Ministries including Federal Education and Professional Training, Information and Broadcasting, National Heritage and Culture, Finance Division and Power Division will be sent to the Federal Cabinet for approval.

Bilal Kiyani said decision has been taken to abolish 150000 posts. Consultations have been made with all ministries in this regard.

Federal minister said health department should remain with the provinces.
We have to take the country to right direction. If IMF gives any bench mark then it is not bad thing. We want to curtail the volume of federal government.