KUWAIT CITY, March 5: The State Audit Bureau (SAB) has asked the Ministry of Information to study the mechanism for purchasing and renting programs, artistic works and the executive producer, calling for the development of a unified and comprehensive regulation that includes all decisions and conditions regarding these operations. Sources explained to the newspaper that this step aims to enhance transparency, fully benefit from the budget allocated to this sector, and achieve the highest level of efficiency in managing media contracts. Sources said SAB asked the ministry to prepare a unified and comprehensive regulation that includes all decisions on purchasing and renting operations to ensure the clarity of procedures and the integrity of contract implementation, as well as to avoid any discrepancy or difference in the standards followed.

Sources added that this procedure is in light of the ministry’s purchase of several drama series and programs to be shown on Kuwait TV during the holy month of Ramadan. Sources said SAB stressed the need to verify the suitability of the prices that were adopted to evaluate the purchase of artistic works and to make sure that the assessment is carried out according to accurate standards that reflect the actual cost of production and artistic quality. Sources indicated that SAB stressed the importance of the declarations of the contracted companies being an integral part of the contract documents to guarantee clarity of obligations and rights between the contracting parties, as this contributes to raising the efficiency of government contracts and avoiding loopholes that may affect the quality of media content or the efficiency of financial contracts. Sources confirmed that all works contracted for Ramadan shows have obtained the necessary approvals from the competent authorities, including the Central Agency for Public Tenders (CAPT) and the Distinguished Works Purchasing Committee at the ministry.

By Mohammad Al-Enezi

Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff