ALMOST 400 topics including doubling value added tax (VAT) from five per cent to 10pc and reforming pension funds will be discussed by legislators starting next week.
His Majesty King Hamad has issued a Royal Order convening the fourth session of the fifth legislative term of the National Assembly on Sunday.
It is expected that the King’s address will be online, while MPs and Shura Council members will be seated in the chamber behind plastic barriers.
The GDN has also learnt that a high-profile meeting between legislators and the government will be held today to prioritise the agenda before the MPs convene for the final session of their four-year term.
Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa said yesterday that such meetings are an assertion of keenness of the executive and legislative branches to continue joint action to support plans aimed at backing the national economy and weather the repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic that has hit the world.
He underlined the importance of synergised efforts to maintain economic growth and ensure the success of initiatives aimed at promoting financial stability.
The minister affirmed the government’s keenness on maintaining exclusion of 94 basic food commodities from VAT along with 1,400 government services.
He outlined measures taken to maintain fiscal balance.
&uuid=(email))