King Hamad orders budget focus on Bahrain's citizens
MANAMA: His Majesty King Hamad has directed officials to include all funds related to citizens in Bahrain’s budget.
Parliament chairman Ahmed Al Mulla yesterday said the directives to put citizens’ welfare at the heart of the budget exercise reflected His Majesty’s keenness on their well-being.
Officials have been directed not to encroach on the interests of the citizens despite the current challenges facing countries in the region, Mr Al Mulla pointed out.
The King’s directives came as it emerged that the financial and economic affairs committees of parliament and the Shura Council have reportedly reached a compromise with the government delegation over the draft budget.
The two sides have reached a consensus on maintaining subsidies and allowances available to the citizens, sources said.
A meeting is to be held tomorrow with the government to finalise the draft budget plan.
The Shura Council will also hold a special session on Sunday to debate the budget consensus before referring the blueprint to parliament.
Parliamentary committee member Adel Hameed said it will meet today and discuss reducing budgetary support for Gulf Air from BD100 million to BD60m.
The committee will also discuss the pumping of BD20m from Mumtalakat – for the first time, into the on the delayed national budget for this year and the next.
The GDN reported on Thursday that MPs had been told to work through the weekend to finalise a report on the budget.
Parliament’s financial and economic affairs committee, which has been tasked with reviewing the new budget, has been given a Sunday deadline by the parliament chairman in order for a vote to be taken on the open floor at Tuesday´s weekly session.
