3rd draft of budget plan to land in WJ next week

KABUL (Pajhwok): The Ministry of Finance (MoF) on Thursday said it was still working on a third draft of 1400 fiscal year’s budget plan which would be referred to the Wolesi Jirga or lower house next week.

The Wolesi Jirga has twice rejected the budget plan for 1400 fiscal year due to what lawmakers said removal of more than 1,100 provincial projects, increase in budget for emergency codes and imbalanced provincial allocations.

Abdul Habib Zadran, deputy finance minister, told media persons on Thursday that they were still working on a third draft of the budget plan and technical teams of the ministry were consulting with people of different provinces to find out their essential needs and requirements.

After completion of the technical survey and in light of the Cabinet’s decision, the third draft would be sent to the lower house for approval next week, he said.

Meanwhile, Farid Nawakht, MoF deputy spokesman, also said the third draft would be shared with the lower house next week.

Without giving details, he said the budget plan would be developed based on requirements and available resources with the Afghan government.

Lawmakers were expected to go on winter recess on January 19, but they announced not to go on recess and not to approve the budget until a balance was observed in provincial spending and salaries of government teachers, officers and soldiers were equalized.

mds/ma

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