Nothing personal: Monetisation of perks begins as vehicle records collected

All govt departments asked to provide their vehicle data within three days

PESHAWAR:

The provincial government has collected records of vehicles from all administrative departments.

This has been done under a policy to monetise the perks and privileges of civil servants. Under the initiative, government vehicles would be taken back from civil servants and they will be provided allowances.

Insiders familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune, the committee responsible for the project has completed the policy. All departments have been asked to provide their vehicle data within three days.

The departments have been asked to provide the number, registration, model, engine capacity and purchase value of the vehicle. In addition, the name and designation of the officials who are using the vehicles have also been sought.

“The policy has been prepared and has to be approved either by the Cabinet or the chief minister,” an official privy to the matter told The Express Tribune.

The committee, headed by Minister for Finance Muzaffar Said, held six meetings and gave its recommendations in April, 2015. After this, the project was put into cold storage until December when the administration department sent the letters.

Modus operandi

He added, “[Under the policy], there would be a complete ban on the purchase of new vehicles for secretariats, directorates and projects.”

Government vehicles, which have been set aside for personal use, would be taken back by the government. In return, they would be provided with a specific allowance every month to cover fuel costs, salaries of drivers and repairs.

According to the officials, grade-22 officials will be given Rs95,000, grade-21 officials Rs77,000 and grade-20 officials will receive Rs65,000.

On the other hand, grade-19 officials will obtain Rs55,000.

The official added ministers and parliamentary secretaries would also return their vehicles and would be paid an additional Rs100,000 and Rs60,000, respectively, in their monthly salaries.

Miscellaneous concerns

“Every department would keep limited vehicles to fulfil its needs,” he said. “These vehicles will bear the name of the department which owns it so that it is not misused.”

According to the official, data of nearly 1,144 vehicles has been gathered so far.

“The figure may vary as some of the vehicles may not be in a position to be used,” he said.

The official added, “The vehicles will either be auctioned through an open tender or sold to officers at a depreciated cost on installments.”

He added they are likely to get a higher price through auctions. “However, we will give the latter option a chance as well.”

The finance department will also start “a car financing scheme,” under which officials would be financed to obtain cars through easy installments.

Aims and objectives

According to the official, the aim of the policy is to prevent the misuse of government vehicles.

“We will save Rs600 million each year after the policy is implemented,” he said. “Field officers, protocol vehicles and police mobiles are exempted from the policy as it is mainly focused on vehicles which are in personal use.”

Current status

Speaking to The Express Tribune, the finance minister said, “The policy has been sent to the chief minister for approval. The chief minister is interested in the policy.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2016.