No directives have been issued to abolish the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and its other departments, the department clarified on Sunday while reacting to media reports.

This came in reaction to a section of media giving the impression that the ministry, among others, was being abolished. The ministry described it as “distorted and fabricated.”

It said: “It is to clarify that the ‘Committee on the Right Sizing of the Federal Government’ has sought recommendations for right-sizing the attached departments from the respective ministries and there is no directive to abolish the said ministries.”

Last month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered an “immediate” wrapping up of the Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak PWD) due to “years’ long poor performance and corruption.” The Pak PWD used to execute all federally funded works except those funded from the defence budget. It also acquired and developed federal government lands.

In his address to the nation on June 15, he said that it was the government’s the priority to take austerity measures and shut down ministries that were of “no use.”

“I have decided that closure of institutions that have become a burden on the nation instead of providing help was necessary,” he said and added that a ministerial committee has been formed in this regard.

“In the next two to three months, I will come in front of you with a better message,” PM Shehbaz, “I think it will be the biggest step to cut expenses and save funds.”