Information Minister Jamal al-Jarrah declared that there is a major positive inclination to approve the elderly pension law, the customs law and the tax law as soon as possible.
Following the cabinet session held on Thursday at the Grand Serail, al-Jarrah said “some expenses related to fuel have been reduced, as well as other matters such as furniture,” adding that there is a study about the associations that take contributions from the state, to see which are useful and serve the community, so that they continue to get their allocations.
“As for the ones that do not serve their purpose, the contribution of the state will be reduced or canceled. The fuel spending for all state institutions and administrations in general was reduced,” he explained.
The minister noted that more studies will be submitted and the cabinet will hold a session next Monday at 4:00 pm, so that the reforms committee can convene beforehand, stating that the retirement issue has been tackled and studies will be conducted in this regard.
“A decision was taken to place scanners at customs crossings to control the smuggling of goods into Lebanon. There is an almost complete agreement on laws on public procurement, tax liability, customs and elderly pension. Some figures in the budget were completed today,” he continued.
In turn, Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil announced that the budget will be completed and referred to the Parliament within the constitutional deadline.
For his part, Defense Minister Elias Bou Saab said that the budget will not pass without real reforms and without the implementation of the electricity plan.
Sources told LBCI that the cabinet approved credits for the electricity amounting to 1800 billion within the budget, adding that Energy Minister Nada Boustani agreed.