Legislative-executive consensus on budget changes

Manama, Apr.27 (BNA): The legislative and executive branches of government have reached an agreement to amend the draft state budget for the fiscal years 2019-2020. “The proposed changes meet the basic principles agreed upon to achieve the Government’s Action Plan and the commitment to the financial balance so as to maintain citizens’ gains”, said Shura Council’s Financial and Economic Committee chairman Khalid Hussein Al-Maskati. He made the statement following a key legislative-executive meeting, which reached a consensus to make changes to the state general budget project for the fiscal years 2019-2019. The proposed amendments aim to increase the revenues of 9 Government departments during the 2019-2020 fiscal years – These include the National Heath Regulatory Authority (BD1.5 million); Youth and Sports Ministry (BD3.5 million); Information Affairs Ministry (BD900,000); Urban Planning Authority (BD 1 million); Works, Municipalities Affairs Ministry’s court (BD2 million). The session also stressed the importance of increasing the number of health centres working round the clock, saving medicine, slashing the waiting lists, ensinge the Government’s commitment to constructing 25,000 housing units and disbursing the rain compensation payouts, in addition to achieving road and infrastructure mainterance.