ISLAMABAD: The government has decided to abandon various departments related to alternative energy currently working under the umbrella of four ministries/divisions and merge them with Alternative Energy Board in order to reduce millions of rupees expenditure incurred on each of them on per annum basis, it is learnt.

“We have decided merger of departments of alternative energy related initiatives working under various ministries/divisions in order to reduce expenditures and avoid duplication of work,” a senior government official disclosed while talking to The News here on Wednesday.

However, when official spokesman of Alternative Energy Board (AEB) was contacted for comments on Wednesday, he said that the AEB was not aware of any development in this regard.

But the ministerial level source insisted that the decision to this effect was taken by high powered ministerial committee of the PPP government in a bid to overcome severe criticism on the incumbent regime for appointing battalions of ministers, minister of state and parliamentary secretaries at a time when the country is getting loan from the IMF.

“Yes, we have decided to abolish those departments where there is duplication of work going on under various ministries/divisions in a bid to curtail expenditures,” a top official of Gilani government told The News. By merging all departments only single institution will be made responsible to avoid duplication of work being done under umbrella of various ministries.

The first decision, he said, has been taken by the government to merge Alternative Energy related departments currently working under various ministries including Ministry of Science & Technology and others for doing the same kind of work.

“A Ministerial committee held its meeting on Tuesday in which it was agreed in principle to merge all departments into Alternative Energy Board in a bid to avoid duplication of work,” he added.