Officials of BS-20 and lower grades allowed cell phone facility at government expense: roaming mobile telephones for BS-21, 22 …

Tweet Pin It TAHIR AMIN ISLAMABAD (May 23 2009): The Cabinet Division has allowed officials in the BS-20 and below to use mobile phones at government expense, with some allowed the facility of roaming, official sources told Business Recorder on Friday.

Under the new policy, circulated to all ministries/divisions, the facility of roaming mobile telephones has been extended to secretaries, additional secretaries, head of attached departments and autonomous organisations, which are in or equivalent to BS-21 and BS-22.
The policy clearly indicates use of tax money to facilitate the bureaucrats and senior government officials at public expense. These officials would be permitted to use unlimited landline ceiling and Rs 1,000 mobile phone ceiling. The revised phone policy and revised office ceiling on landline are effective from May 11, 2009 subject to observance of the following conditions:
-For the joint secretaries (BS-20) or equivalent in the ministries/divisions and director generals in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, office phone ceiling on landline number is unlimited per month; Rs 1,000 per month for mobile phone ceiling while unlimited for revised office phone ceiling on landline numbers.
-For deputy secretaries (BS-19) or equivalent in the ministries/divisions and directors in the Foreign Affairs Ministry: Rs 8,221 plus line rent for the office phone ceiling on landline number per month; Rs 800 per month for mobile phone ceiling, while Rs 7421 plus line rent for revised office phone ceiling on landline number.
-Similarly for Section Officer (BS-17-18) or equivalent in the ministries/divisions and assistant directors /deputy directors in the Foreign Affairs Ministry: Rs 6,711 plus line rent for the office phone ceiling on landline number per month: Rs 500 per month for mobile phone ceiling, while Rs 6211 plus line rent for revised office phone ceiling on landline number.
According to the revised policy, all entitled officers of Foreign Affairs and other ministries, posted in Pakistan missions abroad, are authorised 20 percent of combined ceiling (office and residential telephone) for use of mobile phone. Similarly, the roaming facility of mobile telephone has been extended to secretaries, additional secretaries, heads of attached department and autonomous organisations, who are in or equivalent to BS-21 and BS-22.
It is mentioned in the policy that excess expenditure beyond ceiling on roaming mobile phone up to 25 percent will be condoned by the concerned Principal Accounting Officer (PAO). The excess expenditure up to 50 percent will be condoned by the Cabinet Secretary on the recommendations of the concerned PAO.
It is also clarified in the policy that only posted billing would be admissible for use of mobile telephone. The facility allowed to the officers in BS-20 and below will also be subject to the condition that the officers will arrange the equipment (mobile phone set) on their own. In the policy, it is said that the officers will be allowed to have connection to any mobile company they choose.