–Caretaker setup also slaps ban on recruitment against vacant posts, procurement of locally assembled, imported new vehicles out of development budgets
–Measures to be applied to all departments, local govts, public companies, autonomous bodies, attached depts with immediate effect
LAHORE: Ahead of forwarding authority to the newly-elected government, the caretaker government, while making an announcement of austerity measures for the fiscal year 2018-19, has banned foreign visits and treatment abroad on state expenses by any minister, lawmaker or other government officials.
Punjab caretaker government on Wednesday also slapped a ban on recruitment against vacant posts and upgrade of posts besides procurement of locally assembled and imported new vehicles out of development budgets.
The provincial government has directed all administrative secretaries, commissioners, deputy commissioners, heads of attached and autonomous bodies and other officials concerned to remain restricted to their budgetary allocations and observe utmost austerity in use of public money through prudent financial management.
“The provincial government has decided to observe utmost austerity in the usage of public money through prudent financial management, observance of financial discipline, judicious reduction of the expenditures without compromising the essential and core organisational functions/activities. Expenditures shall be required to be realigned with the organisational goals to make them target-based and cost-efficient. Wastage of resource and leakage of funds needs to be curbed strictly,” states a notification issued in this regard.
The measures to be taken under the drive during the fiscal year 2018-19 will be applied across the board for all government departments, local governments, public sector companies, autonomous bodies, attached departments and special institutions with immediate effect.
The provincial government has also announced that all administrative departments should remain within budgetary allocations to minimise the incidence of supplementary grants and the request for the same, if unavoidable, should require an approval of the provincial cabinet or the Standing Committee of the Cabinet on Finance & Development (SCCFD).
Moreover, the finance department would release funds that are to be used within the current financial year to such entities in their respective SDAs or through normal release mode. These funds will further be transferred from SDAs by the administrative department to commercial bank accounts of such entities as per the cash flow requirement of entities to avoid unnecessary parking of funds. Administrative secretaries should ensure the return of unspent amount in such entities to the finance department through 2nd Statement of Excesses & Surrenders.
The letter further states that there should be a complete ban on foreign visits of ministers, MPAs and government officers through government funding. The cases for foreign visits should be placed in the austerity committee for its consideration and subsequent approval of the chief minister through submission of a summary. The provincial ministers and civil servants while undertaking official tours should travel in economy class on domestic flights. For international visits, the ministers/officers should travel in one class below their entitlement.
There should also be a complete ban on medical treatment abroad at government’s expense as well as on procurement of locally assembled new and imported vehicles out of current and development budgets. “Under unavoidable circumstances, vehicle(s), (except a. ambulances for hospitals, b. buses and coasters for educational institutions; c. tractors, dumpers, water bowsers, fire fighting vehicles, flood relief equipment(s); d. motorcycles), shall be procured with the prior concurrence of austerity committee and subsequent approval of the chief minister through submission of the summary.”
There will also be a ban on the purchase of durable goods, including generators and air conditioners except with the prior concurrence of the austerity committee. However, the generators required for sewage disposal and water supply schemes / tube-wells will be exempted from the ban. The earlier withdrawal of furnishing grants allowed to the provincial ministers for the furnishing of their houses and discretionary grants should remain withdrawn during the fiscal year 2018-19 as well.
As per the letter, the contingent paid staff can only be hired in extremely emergent cases according to powers specified in the delegation of Financial Powers Rules, 2016. However, the departments should remain within the budgetary allocations for the purpose under object head “A01277-Contingent Paid Staff” and no re-appropriation should be allowed and no additional funds as supplementary grant should be provided for this head.
