MPs in the Lower House on Wednesday approved the fiscal budget for 2014 after rejecting the first draft and pushing through some amendments.
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Afghan Minister of Finance Omar Zakhilwal reported that up to 70 percent of the demands and recommendations submitted by legislators after the first draft was presented were considered in the second draft, which passed on Wednesday.
440 billion AFG was originally considered for the 2014 fiscal budget, but it was reduced to 428 billion AFG. The ordinary budget has increased to 285 billion AFG from 280 billion AFG while the development budget declined from 268 billion AFG to 247 billion AFG. Despite the budget's approval, a number of lawmakers expressed their opposition to the larger allocation of money to the emergency and miscellaneous provisions. More than a week ago, the MPs voted by majority to reject the budget draft assembled by the Ministry of Finance, requiring the Ministry to reassess its draft and make a number of changes.
In this episode of Farakhabar, host Yama Siawash discusses the issue with the following guests:
Fawozia Koji, MP
Ahmad Massod Kamal, Director General Budget Ministry of Finance