Govt ministries save 25% cut in expenses

This news has been read 13519 times!

Services fee hike with ‘Fatwa’

KUWAIT CITY, Nov 13: Government agencies have managed to save about 25 percent of the target for reduction of their expenditures in the budget of the current fiscal year 2021/2022, as the amounts recorded so far have reached about KD 616 million, or about 25 percent out of KD 2.3 billion. This constitutes ten percent of the required target, which is part of the measures aimed to address the depletion of liquidity in the general reserve and find solutions to the budget deficit, reports Al-Rai daily.

According to informed sources, the sums saved so far are distributed at KD 471.134 million from the reduction of exchange, KD 125.45 million from prioritizing construction projects and contracts and postponing unnecessary ones, about KD 9.937 million from halving the expenses of research and consultancy studies, and approximately KD 4.751 million from reduction of non-essential services contracts by 50 percent of the approved budget.

These include printing, security, cleaning services, messengers, hotel, data entry services, publishing, hospitality, parties, trips, advertisements and gifts. Also, KD 2.532 million was saved from reduced participation in all local and foreign exhibitions and conferences to reach half of the approved budget for 2021/2022. Finally, approximately KD 1.581 million, constituting 50 percent, was saved from the reduction of official duties. The sources said, “With regard to reconsidering the fees for government services and raising their value, it will be increased based on the opinion of the Fatwa and Legislation Department, which is the legally tasked authority to determine the fee. However, it should be on the basis of the actual cost of the service offered by the state or the public party, in accordance with each case separately, and in accordance with the provisions of the law that imposed the fee.

This news has been read 13519 times!