Discussions to be held with pro-government parties regarding supplementary budget

Minister of Finance Abdullah Jihad has said that discussions will be held soon with pro-government political parties, to get their opinions regarding the MVR 1.8 billion supplementary budget to be proposed to the parliament.

Jihad told Sun Online that the MVR 1.8 billion supplementary budget, which will be proposed to the parliament once its second session for 2013 begins next month, was presented at the cabinet meeting yesterday.

“We have prepared the budget and presented it to the cabinet. But before proposing it to the parliament, we will meet with the parliamentary groups of the pro-government political parties to get their opinions,” he said.

Jihad said that MVR 1.8 billion was included in the supplementary budget to make up for the amount deducted when the budget was passed by the committee.

“Several recurrent expenses were deducted when the budget for this year was passed. We will include in the supplementary budget, ways to increase income in order to make up for this deduction,” he said.

He said that the bill proposing a $30 airport service charge had been revised and sent to the parliament as a measure to increase income in the supplementary budget.

He said that the sale of treasury bills to reduce the deficit will also be proposed.

“It won’t be easy to sell T-bills to finance the entire budget. So we have revised and proposed the bill on airport service charge. And then there are the bills that were sent earlier. If they are passed, income will increase,” he said.

Jihad said that the cabinet had formed a committee to study the supplementary budget presented yesterday.

The committee is made up of Jihad, Tourism Minister Ahmed Adheeb, Economic Minister Ahmed Mohamed, Education Minister Dr Asim Ahmed and Health Minister Ahmed Jamsheed.