Task forces submit report to Ministerial Committee

The task forces set up by the Executive Committee, chaired by Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, have  finalised the tasks to rationalise spending through reducing recurrent expenditure, said Deputy Premier and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalising Expenditure Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa.

The six task forces have submitted their recommendations as well as their implementation mechanisms to the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalising Expenditure, which, in turn, will submit its final report to the Executive Committee next week. 

HRH the Crown Prince issued on October 1, 2015, an Edict establishing six task forces to review and identify areas where recurrent government expenditure can be reduced. They included a task force responsible for the reduction of costs related to the maintenance of government buildings, led by the Minister of Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning, a task force responsible for the reduction of travel expenses and transportation costs, led by the Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications and a task force responsible for the reduction of property rental costs, led by the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism.

They also included a task force responsible for the reduction of costs related to advertisements, publications, subscriptions and stationery, led by the Ministry of Information and Parliament Affairs, a task force responsible for auditing and reducing IT-related expenditure, led by the Chief Executive Officer of the e-Government Authority and a task force responsible for efficient utilisation of medications and medical equipment, led by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health. 

Prince Salman issued directives to the task forces to submit, within two months, their proposals and the implementation mechanisms to the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalising Expenditure, which, in turn, should submit its final report to the Executive Committee.

Shaikh Khalid said the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalising Expenditure convened yesterday and examined the proposals and recommendations of each task force. 

He stressed that the implementation of the proposals of the task forces will not affect the rights and gains of the public sector employees.