August 27 – Financial Express states that Pakistan has banned the VIP culture at airports for “influential people” including politicians, judges and military officials as part of the new government’s austerity plan, media reports said today. The decision will be strictly implemented to provide equal opportunities to all travellers without any discrimination, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry was quoted as saying by Dawn. The move, which came under effect from yesterday, comes days after the new government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan banned the discretionary use of state funds and first-class air travel by officials and leaders, including the president and the prime minister, as part of its austerity drive.
