Jordan’s King Abdullah has sent a letter to royal family members asking them to avoid overspending and accumulating debts, Information Minister Taleb Rifai was quoted by the Jordan Times newspaper as saying Wednesday.
Rifai told reporters that the King's efforts to control spending is “an example to the government to instruct its departments to avoid overspending and rationalize expenses.”
Last month, Prime Minister Ali Abul Ragheb approved different measures aimed at cutting perks and privileges enjoyed by former officials.
The measures targeted unnecessary expenses, including those by former prime ministers who believed that those privileges, should continue even after they leave office, said the paper.
Under the new regulations, the former officials were asked to pay the charges of the one or two mobile phones that they continued to use while the Prime Ministry footed the bill.
The governmental measures also targeted the 12,000 public vehicles, whose movement cost at least JD50 million (about $75m) a year.
Rifai said the cabinet was also considering cutting expenses by “merging some government departments” which are related in the tasks they perform, according to the paper.
Last year, the Royal Court began cutting back on expenses by deciding that those persons who were granted custom-free cars through the court would no longer be given this privilege and would be required to pay customs to the government – Albawaba.com
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
