KABUL (SW) – The Integrity Watch Afghanistan on Monday underlined the draft fiscal budget for 2019 is designed to be misused by the government.
Syed Ekram Afzali, chief executive officer IWA, said at a press conference the national budget should instead serve the purposes of eliminating poverty and growing the economy. He alleged infiltration of corruption in the budget drafting process has resulted in this being of no benefit for the society or state-building.
The IWA chief executive acknowledged the revenue collection has almost doubled during the National Unity Government, and the government spending has also increased in comparison to the past years, however, there are no positive signs on the lives of common citizens.
According to the IWA, there is no clarity about the proposed utilization of some 30 per cent of the 2019 budget. On this bases, the watchdog urged the parliament not to endorse the draft budget until the proposed utilizations of the budget are clarified.
Roshan Seeran, civil society activist, stressed the 2019 draft budget should be prepared considering the gender-based needs of the population. She said project meant to empower women should be incorporated in the national budget to ensure their effectiveness.
Meanwhile, Shamaroz Khan Masjidi, spokesman for the Ministry of Finance, rejected the allegations levelled by the IWA. He told Salam Watandar civil society, sector-experts and other relevant stakeholders were taken onboard budget drafting process.
The IWA findings indicate the government spent 24 per cent more in 2018 than what was spent in 2017. It also indicated the revenue soared from AFN 99 billion in 2014 to AFN 188 billion in 2018.
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