People's Majlis

Parliament tables state budget submission on agenda

The proposal of the government budget for next year has been put on the agenda for Tuesday's Parliament sitting.

According to amendments to the Parliament rules of procedure, the budget must be discussed on the Parliament floor on the day that it is proposed. Each member will get a maximum of 15 minutes to debate on the budget and would be forwarded to a parliamentary committee for review. The budget is expected to be passed by early December.

Some lawmakers say the proposed government budget is MVR 26 billion which is one billion less than this year.

The finance ministry has been tight-lipped over the proposed budget, but according to sources, the government has submitted a MVR26 billion for 2017 as opposed to MVR27.5 billion for this year.

President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom recently had vowed to double infrastructure development projects next year despite the smaller budget.

Speaking during a mass rally held to celebrate ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) anniversary, President Yameen said that well over 500 projects are currently in progress all around the Maldives despite various difficulties.

The President also said that the target for next year is to double the amount of projects, and that the result will be evident all around the nation.

"Over 560 projects are currently ongoing all over the Maldives. If God wills it, then we will double this amount and rise above it. We are proposing a budget of 27 billion for next year," the President said.