The MP for Kinbidhoo constituency and Chair of the Budget Committee reviewing the Annual Stata Budget for 2021, Mohamed Naashiz, has said that the committee has brought changes during its review of the budget while has reduced the overall budget deficit from MVR 15.5 billion to MVR 12.3 billion.

He made the remark presenting the Committee report to the parliament today.

MP Naashiz said that when the government proposed the budget, an estimate of 700,000 thousand tourists visiting the country but after the review, changes have been made to fit an estimate of 1 million tourists.

He said that with this change, the income to the state increases and with it, the block grants for the Councils have been increased to 40 million. And the changes to the PSIP, 105 million has been increased to that category.

MP Naashiz said that with the changes, MVR 52.8 million has been increased to the independent institutes and MVR 128,000 have been added to the political parties with the changes to the overall budget.