Parliament's Budget Committee has approved a supplementary budget of MVR 6.5 million allocated for the media.

MDP's Maradhoo MP Ibrahim Shareef proposed to allocate MVR 6.5 million to registered broadcast companies and media outlets under the special budget code. Shareef's proposal was seconded by ppm leader Edafushi MP Ahmed Saleem.

However, with a new government being sworn-in tomorrow, Democrat's MP Ibrahim Shareef (Bonde) proposed to postpone the approval of the budget to Monday in order to have a Minister from the new government present for it. Kudahuvadhoo MP Ahmed Ameer also proposed an amendment to include a detailed list of constituencies that have not been shown.

The two amendments were supported by Democratics' Hulhudhoo MP Ilyas Labeeb, but members of the committee voted to allocate MVR 6.5 million to the media as proposed by Shareef and pass a supplementary budget of MVR 6.5 billion proposed to be added to the state budget this year.

The approval of the budget will increase the state budget to MVR 49.4 billion this year. The MVR 42.8 billion previously approved by the parliament for the current fiscal year includes MVR 3.1 billion for recurring and MVR 3.3 billion in capital expenditure.

Out of the proposed increase in recurring expenses, MVR 1.8 billion has been allocated for the subsidy. Mvr 1.2 billion has been allocated for Aasandha.

MVR 1.7 billion has been allocated in the budget as capital expenditure for 12 PSIP projects, out of which the highest amount has been allocated for Addu Land Reclamation and Coastal Protection Project valued at MVR 344 million. MVR 355 has been allocated for the H.D. Hanimaadhoo Airport Project, MVR 290 million has been allocated for the construction of sewerage projects in 34 islands, and MVR 150 million forcompletion of POLCO housing units. MVR 146 million has also been allocated for the Male' -Thilafushi bridge project.