Wolesi Jirga or lower house of the parliament has rejected National Food Package (NFP) scheme launched by the government due legal shortcomings and not being endorsed by the lower house.
Two days earlier, the president inaugurated the NFP programme worth $244 million through which essential food items would be distributed among millions of vulnerable families.
In a special session convened for discussion on government charity schemed attended by Finance Ministry Secretary Abdul Haseeb Zadran, Wolesi Jirga termed the NFP against article 91 of the constitution and rejected the scheme with majority vote.
Zadran said: “The NPF scheme is launched in compliance with article 35 of the budget principles on the bases of which projects financed from development funds has no need for approval from the lower house.”
He added: “In such a circumstances only the financing sources holds the authority and during seven working days working report of the programme should be provided to the Wolesi Jirga and this being worked out.”
He said the project has a total cost of 280 million afs and being funded from the optional development budget. The funding is made by the World Bank and the scheme was being implemented by the Rural Development Ministry, Independent Directorate of Local Governance and Kabul Municipality.
Zadran said the parliament held the authority to monitor the process and concerned authorities of this scheme should hold themselves accountable to the parliament.
But Zadran’s arguments did not convince the lawmakers.
Abdul Rauf Enami, member of the Wolesi Jirga Finance Commission said: “The NFP is against article 91 of the constitution and the optional development budget fund and this scheme is implemented through government and should be approved by the lower house.”
Article 91 of the constitution says: “The House of People have special authorities such as decide on the development programs as well as the state budget.”
Finally Speaker Mir Rahman Rahmani put the NFP for voting and majority of the lawmaker voted against it.
