House passes draft budget

Manama : The House of Representatives yesterday passed the draft State budget bill for the fiscal year 2017-2018 and referred it to the Shura Council for approval.

Shura Council will discuss the bill on Sunday before referring it to the government. 

The majority of MPs voted for the report issued by the Economic and Financial Committee in the Council.

The voting process came during the Council’s weekly meeting, in the presence of Finance Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa.

The bill was discussed thoroughly by committee members, in coordination with Ministry officials. Several meetings were held last month for the purpose.

As reported earlier, committee members had handed over to the minister 40 written questions seeking clarification on several points mentioned in the draft. The questions were on oil revenues, incomes of the state, the increase in electricity and water tariffs,  means to decrease government debt, deficit and other related matters.  

Committee Head MP Abdulrahman Buali said that they will not pass the draft unless their enquiries are answered.

However, His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa later issued a Royal directive to take care of citizens’ needs in the budget and not to reduce them as part of any austerity measures.