Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea has directed a halt to all nonessential government spending in response to the combined pressures of the El Niño weather pattern, increasing cost of living, and broader economic difficulties. The Cabinet has approved measures to curtail expenditures on items such as official travel, conferences, meetings, and programmes. This decision aims to address the challenges posed by El Niño, which is expected to significantly impact the country. The move comes as Papua New Guinea faces rising living costs and other economic pressures. The government hopes these restrictions will mitigate the effects of these crises. Further details of the spending freeze were announced by the Prime Minister. The announcement was initially published by Post Courier.