Austerity measures: PM Office spending slashed for now, but door open for revision

Govt made a cut, at least on paper, in budget of PM’s Office for fiscal year 2014-15, pegging it on Rs779.35...

ISLAMABAD:

Austerity was a buzzword when the incumbent Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) came to power a year ago. In keeping with its promise of slashing non-development expenditures, the government made a cut, at least on paper, in the budget of the Prime Minister’s Office for fiscal year 2014-15, pegging it on Rs779.35 million.

In its first budget the government had slashed the expenditures of the PM office by 40%, fixing it on Rs754.62 million – it was, however, later revised with an addition of Rs29.16 million taking the total allocations for the PM Office to Rs783.78 million.

In the budget for fiscal year 2014-15, the government once again reduced the PM Office expenditures – but the allocation could be revised, if needed.

According to details, there has been a significant increase under the head of Grants, Subsidies and Write-off Loans as Rs63 million has been allocated under this head in the budget for 2014-15. In the last budget, Rs52.8 million was allocated under this head.

Similarly, the physical assets of the PM Office have seen a substantial increase. According to the estimated budget for 2014-15, Rs8.5 million has been set aside under this head.

In the last budget Rs6.2 million was allocated – the revised estimates took the spending to Rs41.01 million. According to a breakdown, Rs160,000 had been set aside for purchase of computer equipment, Rs650,000 for plant and machinery, and Rs50,000 for purchase of furniture and fixture. In this budget the amount is Rs150,000, Rs650,000 and Rs10,000, respectively.

Apart from that Rs1 million had been allocated for ‘entertainment and gifts’ in the last budget and the amount has been increased to Rs1.3 million for this fiscal.

President House

The government has estimated Rs743.253 million for staff household allowances of the president in this budget compared to Rs672.712 million of the last fiscal year. Initially, the estimate stood at Rs689.612 million, but the revised estimates put the spending at Rs672.712 million.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2014.