Challenges faced by govt to manage the budget because of the dishonesty of the former govt- Economic Minister

Economic Minister Ahmed Mohamed has said that the government is facing many challenges in managing the state budget because of the dishonesty and deceptive plots of the former government regarding the expected income of the state for this year.

Minister Ahmed Mohamed said that many problems have arisen because the former government predicted a large income to the state by selling off the government’s shares of different companies.

He said that questions are raised regarding these predictions when enough shares were not sold of the companies such as Dhiraagu.

He said that the criticism of the MDP government’s faulty economic policies is not something new but he has raised concern regarding the matter even when he was in the opposition. He said that it is predicted that the state will earn an income of 8 billion Maldivian Ruffiya by the end of this year but twice this amount has to be spent by the end of this year.

Noting the damages of introducing GST by abolishing import duty, Minister Ahmed Mohamed said that more than one billion Ruffiya has been at loss from the government income because the import duty has been abolished and it is not producing any benefit for the people either. He said that the prices of goods and services have not come down because of this decision of the former government but the burden on pockets of the people is getting heavier.