Task forces submit recommendations to Ministerial Committee

Manama, Dec. 3 (BNA): The task forces set up by the Executive Committee, chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, have finalised the tasks entrusted to them in order to rationalise spending through reducing recurrent expenditure, Deputy Premier and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalising Expenditure Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa has announced. The six task forces have submit 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 utilization of medications and medical equipment , led by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health. HRH the Crown Prince issued directives the task forces to submit, within two months, their proposals, recommendations, alongside 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 bin Abdulla commended the tremendous efforts exerted by the six task forces since their establishment for the sake of reducing recurring expenditure, praising their commitment to the method approved by the Executive Committee, chaired by HRH the Crown Prince, as well as the pre-set deadline. The deputy premier said the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalising Expenditure had convened here today and examined the proposals and recommendations of each task force, and was assured that they are feasible and can be implemented on the ground, adding that the heads of the task forces were instructed to classify implementation mechanisms according to a clear timetable highlighting short, medium and long-term phases. Shaikh Khalid affirmed the government's resolve to implement the initiative according to the best practices, stressing that the implementation of the proposals and recommendations of the task forces will not affect the rights and gains of the public sector employees at all administrative levels, nor will have any impact on productivity or the quality of services. This, he emphasised, proves the government's firm resolve to deal with the financial challenges caused by the decline of oil prices by reducing and rationalising expenditure without affecting the citizens' rights and gains. Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla extended sincere thanks to HRH the Crown Prince for his sound decision to establish the six task forces to rationalise government expenditure. He also paid tribute to the heads and members of the task forces, expressing confidence that the implementation of their recommendations will achieve the expected for results.