Deputy Premier chairs committee meeting

Manama, Oct.30 (BNA): The Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalisation of Spending has today convened. Chaired by Deputy Premier Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa, the panel reviewed purchase demands which were submitted by different ministries and government departments. The purchase demands were referred to the six work teams which were established as part of the Fiscal Balance Programme (FBP) initiatives. The move was in compliance with the circular, which was issued by the Deputy Premier, Head of the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalisation of Spending, on the 11th of October on regulating operational expenditure. Finance Minister Assistant Undersecretary for Joint Financial Services Nada Mustapha said that 330 demands have so far been submitted by 31 ministries and government departments. A batch of 153 purchase demands have been referred to the miscellaneous spending team, 116 to the Travel and Transportation Team, 32 to the IT team, 20 to the Government Building Maintenance Team. Two other demands were also referred to the Rental Team and two teams to the pharmaceutical panel. The demands will be studied in coordination with the Finance Minister Assistant Undersecretary for Joint Financial Services. Final reports will then be submitted to the Ministerial Committee for Financial Affairs and Rationalisation of Spending to be endorsed, rejected or re-evaluated.