BEIRUT, (Xinhua) — Lebanese caretaker Finance Minister Ali Hassan Khalil said Tuesday that people cannot bear any further increase in taxes in Lebanon, local media reported. “People cannot pay more taxes to finance the government’s projects. What we really need right now are real reforms whereby all political parties assume their full responsibilities in this regard,” Khalil was quoted by the National News Agency as saying. Khalil also said that no new taxes will be adopted in the 2019 budget. Khalil’s remarks came a day after news about possible tax hikes were published by Al Akhbar local newspaper. According to the newspaper, Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh proposed an increase of 5,000 Lebanese pounds (3.31 U.S. dollars) in the price of fuel and a hike in value added tax to solve the housing loans crisis in Lebanon. “Salameh refused to impose more taxes on the banking sector in a bid to secure funds for housing loans,” it said. It added that Salameh’s new proposal came during his meeting last week with the national economic, trade and industrial parliament committee to discuss ways of solving the housing loans crisis in Lebanon. Khalil said earlier that the Finance Ministry is in the process of holding discussions with the political powers and parliamentary blocs over the 2019 budget draft so that it can be ready to get approval once the new government is formed. The new cabinet must discuss and approve the draft state budget before referring it to the parliament for endorsement. Enditem