MPs Report Progress in Disputed Points on Budget tolonews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from tolonews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Afghanistan Infrastructure Trust Fund Discusses Progress and Forthcoming Priorities
News Release | 10 May 2021
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (10 May 2021) The Steering Committee of the Afghanistan Infrastructure Trust Fund (AITF), administered by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), today held its annual meeting to review progress and discuss AITF’s role in supporting Afghanistan’s infrastructure development needs.
The virtual meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Minister of Finance and ADB Alternate Governor Abdul Habib Zadran and ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Eugenue Zhukov. Deputy Minister for Policy of the Ministry of Finance Nazir Kabiri, ambassadors, and senior representatives of donor countries and organizations attended the meeting. The Steering Committee provides high-level oversight and guides AITF implementation at policy level.
MPs Report Progress in Disputed Points on Budget
Lawmakers on Saturday said the parliament and government officials have agreed on most of the disputed points on the national budget for the current fiscal year.
However, one of the disputed points that have impeded progress is the allocation of massive funds to the High Council for National Reconciliation led by Abdullah Abdullah for which 800 million Afs ($10 million), lawmakers said.
Mir Afghan Safi, head of the finance and budget committee of the House, said those government entities led by voted-out ministers will not be funded in the third budget draft.
“When we have the State Ministry for Peace Affairs and a 21-member delegation in Doha, then what is the need for the High Council for National Reconciliation?” Safi asked.
Budget Progress: Agreement on Raise for Teachers, Civil Servants
The finance and budget commission of the Wolesi Jirga (House of Representatives) and the Ministry of Finance on Wednesday made some progress toward passing the budget for the next fiscal year.
The head of Parliament’s finance and budget commission said that the government has approved a slight increase in the salaries of the teachers and the civil servants based on the recommendation of Parliament.
Based on the recommendation, 2,000 Afs will be added to the salaries of employees between grades 1 through 8.
“The budget is stuck in the finance and budget commission for amendments, or for a deal,” said Naseer Farahi, an MP.
Wahid Omar, presidential adviser, on Wednesday said that the reasons given by parliament for rejecting the draft budget plan are not legitimate, stating that the government and the parliame