by Naharnet – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held talks Thursday with President Michel Aoun at the Baabda Palace at the beginning of …

By english.aawsat.com

Beirut-Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has said that endorsing the state budget tops the list of government’s goals, adding any new tax would take into consideration interests of both citizens and the economic sectors. Hariri said that approving the ranks and salaries scale should be linked to administrative reforms and ensuring financial resources to finance them. Speaking to a delegation from the economic bodies headed by former Minister Adnan Kassar, the Prime Minister said that a package of taxes and fees made headlines in the past few days, as it is expected to overwhelm citizens -mainly those with limited income-, and some sectors, including the banking sector.

The PM clarified that ongoing discussions on new taxes and fees in the cabinet, will secure the balance between interests of citizens and different economic sectors, and will ensure additional resources to finance the budget. Hariri also noted that the country is battling hard economy conditions, and the government aims to hold a practical discussion to define the taxes and fees that should be applied, with the least impact on the economic growth and on the low-income class.

He added that discussions held in the cabinet are open to reach a balance between the needs of the private sector, citizens and the state. On the other hand, there is a package of incentives to motivate the private sector, which will likely be included in the draft state budget. Hariri said that approving the ranks and salaries scale is being studied by the cabinet; in case it is approved, it should be linked to administrative reforms and suitable financial resources to finance them. Without reforms and commitment to implement them, the ranks and salaries scale cannot be approved, as it is not possible to increase wages without improving productivity in the public sector and activating public administration.

As for increasing the electricity tariff, Hariri said: “I personally believe that it is not permissible to increase the tariff before increasing and improving electricity hours.” The Prime Minister concluded by saying that the government works on developing a new plan to deal with the Syrian refugee issue; it intends to benefit from the international support to develop the infrastructure used by the displaced Syrians especially roads, schools, universities, hospitals, electricity and water sectors.

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