Govt issues new guidelines for VVIP visits budget

[LRE]

Govt issues new guidelines for VVIP visits budget

* Nazims, DCOs ordered to make arrangements less ostentatious

By Anwer Hussain Sumra

LAHORE: The Punjab government has issued new guidelines on expenditures on the visits and public meetings of VVIPs to various districts in the province.

The new guidelines have replaced the financial procedure for incurrence of expenditure for the visits of VVIPs issued in May 2005 by the Services and General Administration Department (S&GAD).

The Finance Department has directed all district nazims and district co-ordination officers (DCO) to follow the new guidelines.

According to the new policy, a policy of which was made available to Daily Times, district governments have been directed to keep their arrangements simple and avoid over-burdening the public exchequer during the visits of the president, prime minister, governor and chief minister. The policy states that the expenditure for all such visits should not exceed the limit of Rs 1 million at any cost.

Expenditures shall be budgeted and approved by the district council according to section 109 (1) of the Local Government Ordinance, 2001. The expenditures can only be incurred during the visits and public meetings of VVIPs on tenting, furniture, transportation, lighting and refreshments. The document states that the expenditure will be financed from the current budget and not the development budget.

According to the document the district co-ordination officer (DCO) will exercise full powers in the matter of advance withdrawals required for immediate disbursement. The expenditure will be incurred in ‘the most economical manner’ as prescribed in rule 15.2 of the ordinance. The expenditures will be examined by a co-ordination committee consisting of the executive district officer (EDO) (revenue), EDO (finance and planning) and EDO (works and services).

The policy also states that the deputy district officer (DDO) concerned will be responsible for the accounts. He will maintain a complete record of the accounts for audits. No expenditure will be incurred on the media campaign for such visits and the distinguished guests will only be served one dish. The arrangements during the visits will be dignified but not ostentatious.

The policy also states that the federal government’s instructions regarding energy conservation will be observed and the use of air conditioners will be avoided.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...008_pg13_4