KABUL (SW): Eklil Hakimi, Minister of Finance, on Saturday told the Wolesi Jirga (lower house) that the proposed Annual Budget 2018-19 has been drafted keeping in mind the goals of self-reliance.
The Minister was called by the house to answer the members’ quarries in regard to the Budget document. In his remarks, Hakimi informed that the government has budget assurances from donors only until 2020, and not after that.
He added the government has written assurance for $ 15.2 billion till 2020 for domestic expenditures. “That is why we should prepare the budget realistically and base it on domestic revenues. It is decided that our domestic revenue should increase to up to $ 1 billion in two years”.
The Minister informed plans have been chalked by the MoF to reach this target, and cuting domestic expenditures as well. One aspect of this plan is to streamline procurements of all government entities. He said the ten suggestions forwarded by the WJ, would be entertained by the MoF, and soon a revised draft would be tabled for approval.
The draft Annual Budget 2018-19 is worth AFN 357.6 billion with AFN 267 billion for expenditure and AFN 90.6 billion for development. The WJ rejected this draft three weeks ago.
ENDS
