Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure has stated that Ministry of Finance has ordered them to stop all projects funded from the government budget. Housing Minister Dr. Mohamed Muizzu said today that the Ministry of Finance has ordered them to stop all government funded projects, and that the projects shall not be continued unless the parliament facilitates ways for the government to gain extra funding.
“Finance has ordered me not to start any infrastructure projects funded from the government budget, for any of the islands. From now onward, not to sign, if the parliament does not approve ways for the government to gain more money, not to start any projects from the government budget, be it harbour construction, or reclamation work, or any other projects that the housing ministry might undertake,” Dr. Muizzu said.
He said that this is a clear indication that the government’s financial position is fragile, and that this means that all government funded projects will come to a halt.
Finance Minister Abdulla Jihad told Sun Online today that the decision to halt all government funded projects was made by the President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik, but said that the decision has not yet been communicated in an official manner. He said that there is a shortage in the government budget and then said that the decision to halt all government funded projects was also approved by the cabinet. He said that the Ministry is currently working on finding new sources of funding and that all government offices and institutions have been instructed to cut back expenses.