Tighten public spending : PM

Manama : His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa has issued directives to all ministries and state departments to tighten control on public money, rationalise and prioritise government expenditure by eliminating bad spending habits, preventing squandering of public funds and ensuring optimum use of resources.

The directives were given while chairing the regular weekly Cabinet meeting held at the Gudaibiya Palace yesterday. 

HRH Prime Minister also gave instructions to step up the supervisory and control procedures to create a better work environment and accelerate the implementation of the government projects featured in the budget and complete them according to schedule.

The directives came in the wake of the approval of the draft-law on the General State Budget for the two fiscal years, 2017 and 2018, by the Legislative Branch.

Welcoming the General State Budget approval by the Shura Council, HRH Prime Minister said that the approval was the fruitful outcome of the strong Executive-Legislature cooperation which contributed to achieving a balance between expenditure rationalisation and the necessary fiscal discipline, preserve the citizens’ rights and consolidate assistance delivered to medium and low income citizens and the neediest social segments.

HRH Prime Minister stressed on the need to implement Budget with efficiency so that it reflects positively on the citizens’ daily life, improve the comprehensive health care services, as well as housing, educational and social services, give top priority to the social dimension and maintain the comprehensive social care umbrella.

HRH Premier also urged ministries and government departments to support the private sector, being an essential partner in the overall development process, lauding, in this context, the Gulf Development Programme for its role in supporting and completing the programmes included in the state budget as well as spurring the national economy.

Archivation

HRH Premier has stressed the importance of archivation and documentation in ministries and government departments to record the citizen-oriented government achievements, urging to set up a register to document the role of Bahrainis who worked at those establishments and made their marks in the services provided by those ministries and departments.