LAHORE.: The Punjab government has allocated Rs.199.9 million to meet the current expenditures of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat during 2013-14 as compared to outgoing financial year Rs.259.8 million.
Although the government allocated Rs.259.8 million to meet the current expenditures of the CM’s secretariat during 2012-13 but in revised estimated of the expenditure touched the figure of Rs.419.861 million which is self-contradictory to the claimed austerity drive in the province.
The CM’s secretariat has slashed the strength of posted employees’ form 622 to 559.
The strength of officers in 2012-13 was 89 which was increased to 95 and posts of subordinates were 533 and now slashed to 464 to promote austerity in CM’s secretariat. The post of principal secretary to CM in BS-21 has been abolished whereas chief photographer had been given special scale. Four posts of private secretaries in BS-17 and 17 posts of personal assistants in BS-16 had been created in budget 2013-14.
The Punjab government has allocated Rs.145.05 million to meet the current expenditures of provincial cabinet during upcoming financial year. The amount was same in outgoing year but was revised to Rs.194.7 million to meet the protocol and expenditures of the provincial ministers.
The cabinet members includes: five advisors, 16 ministers, one chief minister and two special assistant. 35 parliamentary secretaries are also included in budget.
The Punjab government has allocated Rs.85.817 million to meet the current expenditures of Governor Secretariat during 2013-14 financial year. The current expenditures include perks and privileges of Governor have 182 supporting staff including principal secretary.
The Punjab government allocated Rs.109.171 million for Governor House in 2013-14 to meet the current expenditures as compared to Rs.95.431 of corresponding year. The current budget would be used to bear the expenditures of 264 employees posted in Governor House.
The Punjab government allocated Rs.55.5 million to meet the expenditures of Chief Minister’s Inspection Team during 2013-14.