Saleh austerity order as Yemen seeks to narrow budget deficit

SANA’A, Dec. 02 (Saba) – President Ali Abdullah Saleh ordered on Thursday to reduce the proportion of fuel spending given to senior officials estimated at YR 4.5 billion annually. The order comes within the austerity plans, economic and financial reforms and plans to reduce the public budget deficit. Other measures Saleh has urged included rationalizing the public spending, limiting funds given for medical treatments outside the country, parties, hospitality, advertisement and other unnecessary activities. The decision could save the budget about YR 10 billion a year.FRSaba