In Islamabad, the caretaker government of Punjab approved the allocation of a substantial amount of Rs 2.3 billion to purchase new vehicles for assistant commissioners, additional deputy commissioners, and additional commissioners.
This decision raised concerns as the country was already facing a serious financial crisis. The funds would be used to buy luxury vehicles, such as double cabin 4×4 Revo-G M/T for assistant commissioners of each tehsil, Yaris ATIV 1.3L for additional deputy commissioners (general) of each district, and Corolla 1.6 Altis CVT for additional commissioners of each division. The current vehicles used by assistant commissioners would be handed over to tehsildars.
On another matter, the Lahore High Court (LHC) instructed the Punjab government to pay pensions, including judicial allowance (equal to three basic salaries), to all retired employees of the high court. The court linked its decision to the “independence of the judiciary” and referred to a similar ruling by the Sindh High Court.
The LHC emphasized that the government of Punjab should implement the court’s notifications promptly, as they were issued by the rules, and the concept of an independent judiciary required their implementation without opposition.
The court allowed the government one month to challenge this decision before the Supreme Court of Pakistan.
