KABUL - Finance Minister Hazrat Omar Zakhilwal said on Sunday 45 percent financial aid by the international community was set to be used by the Afghanistan government for the next year budget. Zakhilwal presented the financial draft of the budget for the next year to Meshrano Jirga or Senate today.

Following his invitation to share information about the next year expenditures, he told the Senate: “A small share for government is allocated in the budget because of major percentage of the donors’ money has been saved in the budget.”

As many as 20 percent of financial aid of foreign countries had been utilized by the government in the past year, he said, adding the government income had witnessed sharp decrease amid concerns of post-2014 situation of the country.

He acknowledged the government could activate some enterprises and companies because the development fund was provided by the donor countries on which they had their right to implement a particular project.

He said the economy was developing more than 10 percent in the past year but meager investment and trust deficit of businessmen caused decrease 1.5 percent in the economy.

The current fund allocated for the government was not enough, and the budget may be decreased for the next year too, he said, adding a huge amount of the budget was set aside for security, education and higher education.

He said a considerable share of budget had been allocated for the ministry of agriculture, health and rural rehabilitation.

Currently, around 90 percent of development fund and 43 percent of other funds were being donated by foreign countries, he concluded. (Pajhwok)