Parliament committee approves BD500 Million relief fund to ease living costs

TDT | Manama

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Parliament’s Financial and Economic Affairs Committee has approved a BD500 million relief fund aimed at helping families manage rising living costs. Proposed for Bahrain’s 2025-2026 budget under the government’s ‘living standards improvement’ initiative, the fund received backing during a recent committee meeting chaired by MP Ahmed Sabah Al Salloom, alongside other MPs and officials from the Ministry of Finance and National Economy and the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA).

The relief plan, led by MP Khalid Buanaq, focuses on increasing social support, offering direct cash assistance, and providing additional aid for utility bills. Buanaq highlighted the urgency of the fund, warning that many families might face hardship as wages stagnate while living costs soar.

Buanaq emphasized the necessity of including the BD500 million fund in the upcoming budget to alleviate household pressures. His proposal also advocates for better wages and bonuses in the public sector, increased government employment to combat unemployment, and targeted aid for those in greatest need.