The Minister of Works, Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning, Eng. Issam bin Abdullah Khalaf heads the eighth meeting of the government buildings maintenance team to reduce operating expenses. In the presence of Assistant Undersecretary for construction and maintenance projects Eng. Sheikh Mishal bin Mohammed Al Khalifa (Vice Chairman of the Committee), Director of Building Maintenance Affairs Eng. Hadi Mirza Abbas, Director of Services Directorate, Ministry of Education Khuloud Khalid Al Kaabi, Director of Support Services Department, Ministry of Health. Sima Mohammed Zainal. Director of Financial Resources and Services Department, Electricity and Water Authority, Nawal Jumaa Mandil. Head of Budget Directorate for Works Affairs Eyad Abdullatif (Rapporteur of the Committee). Head of Planning and Engineering of Building Maintenance Directorate for Works Affairs Subah Al-Subah.
During the meeting, a detailed report on the work of the government building maintenance team was discussed. The report stated that the last seven meetings of the government buildings' maintenance team resulted in the receipt of 469 requests from various government agencies by 28 February 2019. The teams work focused on the Technical and financial part of the submitted government requirements in addition to check it compliance with the requirements of the tenders and auctions Board. A team of specialists and expertise in the fields of architecture, electricity and mechanics visited a number of ministries and agencies to find out the required works and ensure the need for these works before responding to maintenance requests.
The Government Building Maintenance Team received 469 applications valued at BD2, 211,315. The number of applications approved was 305 with a total value of BD677, 479. The number of applications rejected was 152, The number of outstanding applications amounted to 12 applications valued at BD 37,759, which are reviewed by specialists and experience in the team.
The Ministry of Health is the most responsive government agency with 90 applications, followed by the Ministry of Public Information with 45 applications. 80% of the applications were answered within 5-10 days, while 20% took more time regarding the technical and financial review it needed and the visits to the sites concerned.
It is worth mentioning that the Governmental Buildings Maintenance Team that is headed by the Minister of Works, Municipal Affairs and Urban Planning was formed in line with the directions of the Deputy Prime Minister No. 2 of 2018 dated 11 October 2018 to form six government task forces to reduce operating expenses. To balance expenditure and government revenues by 2022.
