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Despite the government's tall claims of austerity, next year's budget for the upkeep and maintenance of the Prime Minister House's gardens is roughly Rs 20 million - a 39% increase from the previous year's budget. The allocation has been made despite an official announcement that Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani will soon vacate the PM House and shift to a smaller house to observe 'simplicity' and austerity, reports The Express Tribune. Finance Minster Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh had announced in his budget speech that the PM House will be transformed into an international institute of advanced studies and the premier would relocate to a smaller residence. According to details, the Prime Minister's Estate Gardens will be maintained by as many as 73 gardeners. The combined salaries of these gardeners, including allowances, come up to Rs 18.5 million for 2012-13; whereas last year, these gardeners only cost Rs13.31 million. The lavish spending is not the only exception, as one can literally find hundreds of such heads while going through the voluminous 'Pink Book', containing every detail of the budgetary allocations except for the defence budget. The government has allocated another Rs 37.4 million to be spent on the conveyance and motorcars of the Prime Minister's Secretariat, which is 51.4% higher than the previous year's budget. Out of that amount, Rs 20.5 million has been earmarked for domestic travel and transport expenses of the premier, which has also increased by Rs7 million from the previous year's budget. For repair and maintenance of these expensive vehicles, a sum of Rs11 million has been allocated, which is Rs5 million or 83% higher than this year's budget. In addition to that, the government has allocated Rs15 million in the Cabinet Division budget for repair and maintenance of cars, mostly used by the premier. Despite a ban on the purchase of new vehicles, the government has allocated Rs 2 million for the PM House to purchase a new vehicle, according to the budget documents.

'Cash-strapped' Pak allocates 20 million rupees to beautify PM House garden