Citizens’ interests to be top priority in budget

Manama : “Citizens’ interests are the top priority which will not be harmed in any way,” it was reaffirmed during a meeting held yesterday between Finance Minister Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa and members of the Financial and Economic Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives.

The meeting was the second to be held within the past month to discuss the State Budget for the fiscal year 2017-2018.

Committee Head Abdulrahman Buali said in a statement issued following the meeting that the committee has handed the minister 40 written questions that tackle several points that are mentioned in the budget.

The points included the oil revenues, incomes of the state, hike in some services’ fees such as electricity and water tariffs, means to decrease government debt and the deficit in the state budget and other related matters.

“The Legislative Authority has maintained the gains of citizens in the state budget, in line with the wise policy and directives of the Prime Minister HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa,” Buali said.