The Privatization and Corporatization Board (PCB) has instructed State-owned enterprises and their subsidiaries to implement a series of austerity measures in response to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, issuing a circular to companies outlining the required actions.

The measures include reducing expenditure on salaries and allowances, limiting overtime to essential work, completing tasks within official working hours, and temporarily suspending promotions. Companies have also been advised to restrict recruitment to only critical positions required to maintain operations.

The board further directed companies to manage expenses sustainably in line with their operational mandates, while assessing the economic impact of regional developments and taking steps to minimise financial burdens on the public. This includes ensuring that spending is limited to essential operational needs and maintaining stable cash flow.

Additional measures include reducing travel and foreign supplier-related expenses, limiting participation in overseas conferences and fairs, conducting meetings online where possible, and suspending overseas training programmes in favour of virtual alternatives. Companies have also been instructed to minimise non-essential fairs, share resources where feasible, and reduce electricity consumption, including through the use of renewable energy.