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AJK curtails non-development expenditures

RECORDER REPORT

MUZAFFARABAD: The AJK government has imposed restriction on recruitment, transfer of government employees, banned the establishment of new administrative unit, new autonomous and semi-government departments, reduced the daily allowance and fuel and telephone ceiling of ministers, advisors, parliamentary secretaries and government servants.

Announcing the decisions made to curtail the non developmental expenditures in a news conference held here at the Prime Minister House, AJK Prime Minister Sultan Mehmood Choudhary said that all kind of fresh recruitment in government departments has been banned while no new administrative unit, new government department whether semi or autonomous would be set up.

To ensure the maximum presence of ministers,and government servants, in the state capital, only 10 days daily allowance could be charged in a month including the Prime Minister, said Sultan.

The AJK premier said that diesel and patrol ceiling for ministers, advisors, chairmen, prime minister, implementation, and inspection commissions, and special advisor will be 500 liters a month,350 liters for parliamentary secretaries,250 liters for the chief secretary, additional chief secretaries, IGP and officers of Grade-21 and 22, 300 liters for heads of deptt in Grade-20, the commissioner and the DIG Muzaffarabad while 175 to 350 liters for others.

Sultan said that telephone ceiling for ministers, the chief secretary, additional chief secretaries and secretaries has been reduced to 12,000 from 15,000 per month while 5,000 per month for the heads of government departments, officers in Grade 20 and attached departments.

Ceiling for the DIGP, the Advocate General, DCs, SSPs, SPs and director general information will be 1000 per month both for office and residence while other government servants 2,500 to 3,000 per month.

Replying to questions, the AJK prime minister said that new Cabinet will comprise those members who performed well in the last cabinet.

He said that ministers will not be inducted on the district and clan bases.

To a question, Sultan said that Pakistan chief executive Gen Pervez Musharraf has directed me for the furnishing of proposals for the revival of 46 industrial units in AJK.

He maintained his government was striving to set up industry in the state so that unemployment could be reduced.