COST-CUTTING measures and productivity improvements must be made across all government bodies and ministries, the Cabinet has ordered.
'We have numerous targets that we plan to achieve in administrative and financial practices,' said Information Affairs Minister and official government spokesman Isa Al Hammadi in a media briefing following the weekly Cabinet session yesterday.
'These are not just related to quality or cost-saving measures, but go beyond that to perfectionism.
'International compliance is important to us and we want to be in line with practices around the world, if not surpass them.'
Meanwhile, Mr Al Hammadi said that negotiations were ongoing with parliament and Shura Council members on the new national budget.
Hasty
'Threats made by MPs last week that they will block the budget if subsidies are axed or redirected are too hasty considering that they still don't know what they will be voting on or what the budget will look like,' he said.
'The government has been asked to make major changes to reduce spending and we will see in the coming days if MPs and Shura Council members are satisfied with what will be presented to them.'
The Cabinet yesterday also approved a proposal by Youth and Sport Affairs Minister Hisham Al Jowder to have new cultural, sport and youth facilities built in Zallaq, Sitra, Abu Saiba, Shakhoora, Maqaba and Saar.
It directed the matter to the ministerial committee for finance and spending for further study, while asking the Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning Affairs Ministry to locate suitable plots of land.
