MP for Kinbidhoo Constituency and Chair of Public Accounts Committee, Mohamed Nashiz has said that the annual state budget has a shortage of about MVR 15 billion due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speaking on Raajje TV’s “Falasurukhee” program last night, MP Nashiz said that due to the special circumstances due to the pandemic, the income to the state would go down significantly.

He said that without an additional financing to meet the shortage, the government cannot run and cannot pay the salary of government employees.

The MP said that the government needs to use the resources during these challenges to better manage the situation and if it comes to a state that requires borrowing, that needs to be done as well. He said that the purpose of a government is to proceed the best possible way when challenges arise.

He said that investments if the expenses keep exceeding the income, the government needs to find foreign aid and financing solutions.

Nashiz further said that COVID-19 has affected income and so the plan made for the transitional period is not on schedule and due to the pandemic, projects are not moving forward in the speed it needs to be and requires a level changes.