PESHAWAR, Oct 20: The ban on government officials’ travel and treatment abroad would continue during the financial year 2002-03, in an effort on the part of the provincial government to cut down its non-developmental expenditure.

The economy measures adop-ted for the current financial year, according to sources, envisaged extension of the ban on the provincial government officials’ trips and treatment abroad, in addition to the  continuation of a ban on fresh recruitment on permanent basis.

 The ban on the purchase of durable goods would also continue, says an official document.

In case of purchasing durable goods, said the sources, the provincial  and the district governments had been instructed not to utilise the budgetary provisions, except with the prior approval of the finance department.

The ban on fresh appointments would also continue, the district  governments would not be authorised even to appoint staff on daily wages, for special duties, said sources.

As per the budgetary measures, “all appointments will continue to be   made on contract basis, except where nature of the job requires otherwise, after seeking views of the finance department and with the approval of the Governor [provincial]”, says the document.

Besides, in an effort to cut the non-development expenses of the provincial government, the ban on up-gradation of posts would continue, said the sources.

Similarly, no appointment would be made against the posts falling vacant after the officials holding the posts went on leave, said the sources.

In addition to the above mentioned economy measures, the government   has decided to continue the existing ban on the officials’visits abroad to attend workshops and courses on its [government’s] expenses, except for very specific instances.

“ Participation in workshops/seminars and training abroad involving provincial funds will be considered only in very special cases and on a restricts case to case basis with the approval of the provincial governor,” contained the documents.

Sources said the finance department, NWFP, had been asked to make sure that the officials’ in-land travel should also be curtailed to keep it within the budget grants for travelling allowance.

The budgetary measures for economy also contained that “ all lump sum provision, allocation for unforeseen expenditures, grants and block allocation for specific purposes in the budget 2002-03, shall remain at the disposal of the finance department, NWFP, for emergent needs or genuine proposals/requirements and are not available to departments for expenditure”.