DOHA: The State Budget for the next fiscal year (2013-14) is expected to put added emphasis on science and technology development, along with prioritising public spending on social and economic development and sectors like health and education and the environment.
The State Cabinet, at its weekly meeting yesterday, approved draft budgetary estimates for the new financial year that begins from April 1, 2013, and lasts until March 31 next year, reports Qatar News Agency (QNA).
A highlight of the new budgetary estimates is that allocations are made for various ministries and government agencies on the basis of how these entities have utilised the funds they had been allocated in the current year’s budget.
The estimates are crucial as they are a key step in the process of achieving the goals of sustainable development the country has set for itself over the long-term. The part of draft estimates that talk of spending on development projects has been referred to the Advisory Council for its opinion.
The economic and financial committee of the Advisory Council is set to discuss the estimates at a special meeting on Sunday and give its recommendations so that the issue can be debated at length by the council at its regular session the next day, Monday. The council is likely to conclude its discussion on Monday since the new budget is to be unveiled on April 1.
The Peninsula
