National Assembly Secretariat imposes work-from-home for half its staff

The National Assembly Secretariat, which manages administrative affairs of Pakistan's lower house of parliament, has ordered half its employees to work from offices and half from home as part of additional austerity measures that take effect immediately, Aaj News reported. The secretariat said the measures are aimed at reducing expenditures and enforcing austerity.

Under the new arrangement, employees working from home must remain available by telephone, email and WhatsApp. The secretariat has also cut fuel for official vehicles by 50 percent and imposed a complete ban on the purchase of any new vehicles.

The notification said the non-ERE budget for fiscal year 2026-27 will be reduced by 5 percent. Purchases of all types of durable goods have been banned, though information technology equipment is exempt from the restriction.

Meetings of the secretariat will be held through video conferencing, and standing committee meetings will also be encouraged to take place virtually. The number of meetings has been directed to be kept to a minimum, the notification said.

Foreign tours and official travel expenditures are completely banned for three months. Essential official travel will be allowed only under conditions set out in the notification. Official dinners are banned except those given in honour of foreign delegations, while seminars, training programmes and conferences funded from official money are also prohibited.

The secretariat has decided to adopt a paperless working environment to further reduce spending. Employees have been instructed to obtain permission from the competent authority before leaving station.

UrduPoint also reported the measures, saying additional austerity steps had been enforced in the assembly secretariat with immediate effect. UrduPoint's headline indicated that employees working from home may have to be available within one hour when required.