Govt bans discretionary funds of president, PM and ministers

[Norwegian]

Dawn.comUpdated August 24, 2018

Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry addressing a media conference in Islamabad. —DawnNewsTV

In what Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry described as "a historic decision", Prime Minister Imran Khan's cabinet on Friday decided to ban the use of discretionary funds of the president, premier and MNAs in view of the new government's austerity drive.

Chaudhry, who held a press conference after a cabinet meeting, claimed that the previous government had used Rs51 billion in discretionary funds in the last year alone, of which Rs21bn was used by former PM Nawaz Sharif, while Rs30bn was given to MNAs to spend.

Chaudhry, while observing how Sharif would announce development projects during public gatherings, especially around the time the Panama Papers were released, described the act of spending money impulsively as "contempt of taxpayers' money".

He added that before any infrastructural project is announced, it would be discussed in Parliament and then expenditure would be made.


Chaudhry also said that it had been decided that PM Khan would not use the special plane provided to premiers for foreign visits, nor would he travel first class.

Instead he will choose to travel in "club class", Chaudhry said, referring to a class of air travel that is below first class, but higher than economy class. He added that all ministers would also travel in club class.

Along with the prime minister, the president, foreign minister, the Senate chairman and national assembly speaker will no longer have the prerogative of flying first class, he added.

When asked by a reporter if these measures apply to the chief justice of Pakistan as well, the information minister replied: "Yes, the chief justice has also been requested to do the same".

Working timings for govt employees
Referring to a summary regarding a possible new work week and timings for government employees that was discussed during the cabinet meeting, Chaudhry announced that government employees will now work from 9am-5pm instead of 8am-3pm.

He added that Saturday would remain a holiday, quelling earlier fears that people might have to work six days a week.

Audit of mass transit projects
Chaudhry announced that the cabinet had also decided that a forensic audit of the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa mass transit systems must be conducted.

"A forensic audit of the projects is to be carried out and, if necessary, the Federal Investigation Agency can then carry out an investigation," he added.

Additionally, the cabinet has also approved urban tree plantation plans for Karachi, Lahore, Quetta and Peshawar, for which the environment minister will provide details next month, he said

 

[Norwegian]

Marching towards Naya Pakistan
@Mentee @BHarwana @Zibago @Indus Pakistan @Mugen

 

[Mentee]

Now it's time for a mayor to replace d.c in a district. Besides a ban on direct recruitment of asp's and other police reforms as sanctioned in the police committee meeting on Sunday. Just do it already.

 

[VILAYATI]

Now it's time for a mayor to replace d.c in a district. Besides a ban on direct recruitment of asp's and other police reforms as sanctioned in the police committee meeting on Sunday. Just do it already.

mayors are very dishonest in india , they are thieves .
reform civil services .

 

[Mentee]

mayors are very dishonest in india , they are thieves .

your mayors can't due crap without the permission of district collector. as for now the situation is no different here in pak coz of some control freaks but in musharaf era they were the one controlling the district's financial and admin affairs - - - - - and that system delivered exceptionally well all across the country Hence my emphasis on " we shouldn't be living like Indians"

P:S due to the Indian mob mentality and ridiculous cast system being a DC or dsp is the only thing which keep consoling the lower caste conscience to not to rebel against the high caste that may be one day they/their kids could also get to rule a district or a state. Otherwise it's a colonial legacy to control and manipulate the masses into submission.

 

[VILAYATI]

your mayors can't due crap without the permission of district collector. as for now the situation is no different here in pak coz of some control freaks but in musharaf era they were the one controlling the district's financial and admin affairs - - - - - and that system delivered exceptionally well all across the country Hence my emphasis on " we shouldn't be living like Indians"

civilian mayors don't have accountability after their term expires , whereas govt civil servants can be held responsible at any time because they are in service .
as for musharraf era we never went through dictatorship and martial law , so live life unlike indians , that is your life your choice .

 

[Mentee]

as for musharraf era we never went through dictatorship and martial law

Actually musharaf was the only true Democrat we ever had. It's ironical but true in every sense. Free media, industrial and socio economic revolution at every scale and a free and assertive judiciary, by chance though

@vilayti yiu cannot have two admin heads in a district or a state for that matter. It's either going to be a DC or an elected mayor.

 

[war&peace]

Great...every passing day we are getting a good news...Practical steps are being taken rapidly the effect of this will be seen in coming days.

 

[Mentee]

@tps77 @BHarwana a friend send me this. Is it true?

Ban on official meals during meetings.
Ban on purchase of cars and return of all vehicles to the Federal / Provincial pool. Only Suzuki and Cultus vehicles will be allowed to Govt. Officers from BPS- 17-22. All other vehicles will be auctioned.
Ban on recruitment of drivers.



Collect and auction all suv's being misused in government departments.
Identify and name and shame those illegally using vehicles and staff at residences.
Govt vehicles in bazaars and outside schools and at residences to be photographed and reported for seizure.
Ban on government functions in 4/5 Star Hotels.



Reduction by order, 1/3 in the POL, Repair/Maintenance budgets of all govt. Semi govt departments and corporations.
Cancellation of all contractual re employments over the age of 60.
Vacate and auction priceless govt property which includes Colonial bungalows / offices etc by BS 17-22 officers in Islamabad & throughout Pakistan-to raise $1 billion for debt retirement and dam building.
Ban on officers travel abroad.

( Establishment Division , Islamabad ).

 

[Beethoven]

@tps77 @BHarwana a friend send me this. Is it true?

Ban on official meals during meetings.
Ban on purchase of cars and return of all vehicles to the Federal / Provincial pool. Only Suzuki and Cultus vehicles will be allowed to Govt. Officers from BPS- 17-22. All other vehicles will be auctioned.
Ban on recruitment of drivers.



Collect and auction all suv's being misused in government departments.
Identify and name and shame those illegally using vehicles and staff at residences.
Govt vehicles in bazaars and outside schools and at residences to be photographed and reported for seizure.
Ban on government functions in 4/5 Star Hotels.



Reduction by order, 1/3 in the POL, Repair/Maintenance budgets of all govt. Semi govt departments and corporations.
Cancellation of all contractual re employments over the age of 60.
Vacate and auction priceless govt property which includes Colonial bungalows / offices etc by BS 17-22 officers in Islamabad & throughout Pakistan-to raise $1 billion for debt retirement and dam building.
Ban on officers travel abroad.

( Establishment Division , Islamabad ).

Its all well and good on paper but the moment you try to practically apply this...the bureaucracy will resist it with all its force...remember a person like musharraf with all his power couldnt reform the bureaucracy...

 

[Sugarcane]

@tps77 @BHarwana a friend send me this. Is it true?

Ban on official meals during meetings.
Ban on purchase of cars and return of all vehicles to the Federal / Provincial pool. Only Suzuki and Cultus vehicles will be allowed to Govt. Officers from BPS- 17-22. All other vehicles will be auctioned.
Ban on recruitment of drivers.



Collect and auction all suv's being misused in government departments.
Identify and name and shame those illegally using vehicles and staff at residences.
Govt vehicles in bazaars and outside schools and at residences to be photographed and reported for seizure.
Ban on government functions in 4/5 Star Hotels.



Reduction by order, 1/3 in the POL, Repair/Maintenance budgets of all govt. Semi govt departments and corporations.
Cancellation of all contractual re employments over the age of 60.
Vacate and auction priceless govt property which includes Colonial bungalows / offices etc by BS 17-22 officers in Islamabad & throughout Pakistan-to raise $1 billion for debt retirement and dam building.
Ban on officers travel abroad.

( Establishment Division , Islamabad ).

What I heard that the civil servants are given 120K allowance other than salaries for surrendering the benefits like House, Servants etc. since PPP's government, and they are taking the allowance since then and also retaining all these benefits. If it's true than the money must be recovered from them other than taking back these perks.

 

[Mentee]

Its all well and good on paper but the moment you try to practically apply this...the bureaucracy will resist it with all its force...remember a person like musharraf with all his power couldnt reform the bureaucracy...

Musharaf had other issue but he did set em in their place to a large extent by introducing edo's in the districts. No more encroaching upon other departments by one group - - -

 

[Mentee]

Bureaucracy is expendable anyways

 

[Sugarcane]

Its all well and good on paper but the moment you try to practically apply this...the bureaucracy will resist it with all its force...remember a person like musharraf with all his power couldnt reform the bureaucracy...

The weakness of military dictators is that they need support to stick and extend their illegal rule, PTI don't have this baggage, But still fixing bureaucracy is accomplishing mission impossible but much needed step to empower the civil institutions in order to deny space and excuse for military & judiciary to interfere and take control.

 

[Mentee]

The weakness of military dictators is that they need support to stick and extend their illegal rule, PTI don't have this baggage, But still fixing bureaucracy is accomplishing mission impossible but much needed step to empower the civil institutions in order to deny space and excuse for military & judiciary to interfere and take control.

The basic step in my opinion is to strip down the babus off their ridiculous powers by distributing the provincial admin posts equally to the PMs group, more like pitching the CSP against PMs - - - Hiring of technocrats at secretary level and then you'd also have edos's working under a mayor at district level - - - - - - - so no more pain in the *** ac's and dc's. And going by the recent police committee's recommendation it's a win win situation for the AVAAM.