Elected governments are entrusted with the task of investing taxpayers’ money in the development of public infrastructure. That is their core responsibility. Yet, billions are spent on advertising campaigns to present routine functions as grand achievements. This wasteful expenditure must stop.

The official residences and lavish lifestyles of senior bureaucrats are excessive, surpassing those of their counterparts in Singapore and even the prime ministers of European nations. They reside in gated communities while the general public lives in hardship.

In light of Pakistan’s grave economic crisis, public office holders—whether elected or appointed—must visibly practise austerity instead of living in extravagance. Austerity must begin at the top, for only then will it cascade down.

The Prime Minister of Singapore often travels in economy class and moves around his city-state with minimal security—just one escort vehicle and a single police motorcycle. In stark contrast, our prime ministers, chief ministers, and governors travel with dozens of protocol vehicles. Roads are blocked for their movement, inconveniencing the very taxpayers who fund the national exchequer.

Constitutional office holders have official residences near parliament and administrative buildings. If they chose to live there, the costs of blocking routes, logistical arrangements, and other avoidable expenses would drastically reduce.

Singapore boasts foreign exchange reserves of US$363.3 billion and a GDP of US$501.43 billion, while Pakistan’s reserves stand at US$15.6 billion with a GDP of US$337.9 billion. Yet, our officials routinely travel on state-owned jets to sign memorandums of understanding (MOUs) that rarely materialise—or to perform religious pilgrimages. A former PM, who refused to stay in the PM House, instead commuted daily from his private residence to office via helicopter—an approach I struggle to comprehend.

MALIK TARIQ ALI,

Lahore.