QUETTA, Nov 14: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Mir Mohammad Yousuf has directed the provincial departments to take concrete steps for keeping non-development expenditures at a minimum level and enhancing provincial receipts. He issued these directives while presiding over a high-level meeting held here on Monday that reviewed the non-development budget.

The meeting also discussed various suggestions for curtailing non-development expenditures and to make more effective the government’s steps to enhance provincial resources.

Finance Minister Syed Ehsan Shah, Chief Secretary K. B. Rind, Secretary Finance Mehfooz Ali Khan and other secretaries concerned also attended the meeting.

Mr Yousuf said that for curtailing non-development expenditures unnecessary recruitment should be stopped and additional staff should be appointed in other departments according to the requirement.

“Provincial departments should introduce reforms for ensuring implementation of financial discipline policy of the government to overcome unnecessary expenditures,” Jam Yousuf said and added that the province had limited resources so steps were needed for putting an end to the wastage of provincial resources and putting minimum burden on the treasury.

The chief minister said that the federal government has asked the provinces to enhance their resources and it would be possible only when the provinces develop their sources of income.

He pointed out that provincial resources could be increased through developing the sectors of tourism, fisheries, minerals, agriculture and livestock.

He asked the authorities concerned to improve the government policy and enhance facilities for industrialists so as to promote investment in various sectors of the province.

He strictly directed all departments to regularly inform the finance department about their non-development expenditures.

The chief minister said that unnecessary transfers of government employees should be avoided and additional grants should not be demanded for development schemes.

Provincial Chief Secretary K. B. Rind said that steps were being taken to curtail unnecessary expenditures.