Good step, follow up needed

The government has sent a circular to all ministries, government departments, municipalities and state corporations, asking them to reduce fuel consumption by 25 per cent, shift to cars with 2000cc engines or less and stop purchasing new vehicles with engines bigger than 1600cc.

This is all good news, especially if faithfully and effectively implemented.

Such policy would set an example to others to start using cars that are more fuel efficient and environment friendly.

It has taken the government a long time to put into practice its stance on the use of state vehicles, which stipulates that they should be used strictly for public purposes, although, unfortunately, it cannot be said that this injunction is followed faithfully.

Now it has gone one step further, insisting on the use of cars that are friendlier to the environment and cost-effective.

There is fear, however, that the new circular sent by the prime minister will have the fate of the earlier circular restricting the use of public vehicles to state affairs only.

It is no secret that government-owned cars are still being seen driven for private purposes, because there is always a loophole that allows such unauthorised use.

Exchanging big-engine cars for smaller-capacity vehicles is going to take some time, obviously. But there must be a time frame for the move, otherwise the decision will be postponed, shelved, forgotten about and eventually remain just ink on paper.

At the same time, the implementation of decisions regarding state-owned cars — like of all decisions, no doubt — must be effective and enforceable, unless the circulars are to remain just some more pieces of paper buried in the files of government agencies.