The Ministry of Finance (MoF) on Thursday announced allocating 452.6 billion afghanis for 2021 budget and collecting 141 billion afghani in revenue despite challenges posed by coronavirus.
Addressing reporters here, Finance Minister Abdul Hadi Arghandiwal said 296 billion afs had been set aside for general expenses and 156b afs for development activities in the next year budget.
He said the Cabinet approved the budget plan in its Wednesday’s meeting and the bill would land in the Wolesi Jirga next week.
He said the World Bank and the Finance Ministry inked support fund of $600 million and $400 million of it had reached the state treasury while until Nov 15 another 200 million would arrive.
“Despite the spread of coronavirus, the government managed to collect revenue of 141 billion afs and spent 55 percent of the development fund.” He hoped that revenue target for current year would be achieved until the end of this year.
Arghandiwal also hoped that vacant posts in MoF would be announced for open competition and that the recruitment process of 220 posts had been completed.
Deputy Finance Minister Abdul Habib Zadran said that water management, exploitation of mines and petroleum reserves, regional connectivity projects, judicial issues and distribution of computerized Identity Card were government priorities in allocation of funds in the budget.
He said three billion afghanis fund had been set aside for development projects in provinces and would be implemented in line with people’s needs and population.
he Ministry of Finance (MoF) on Sunday dispatched draft budget for 2021 to Meshrano Jirga or upper house of the parliament and said that less than half of the budget was supported by national revenue.
In line with the law, the draft budget first land in Meshrano Jirga for approval and then sent to the Wolesi Jirga for endorsement. Afghanistan’s fiscal year begins from December 22.
