Saleem, Fazad retain leadership of parliamentary budget committee

The parliamentary committee reviewing the government's proposed 2027 national budget has reappointed Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC) as its chair.

Fuvahmulah Central MP Ali Fazad, also representing the PNC, was reappointed deputy chair of the committee.

The appointments were made on Wednesday during the committee's first meeting to examine the 2027 budget, which was submitted to Parliament last week.

Both Saleem and Fazad held the same positions during the previous year's budget review.

The nominations for both positions were submitted by Funadhoo MP Mohamed Mamdhooh and seconded by Kelaa MP Abdulla Shareef, both members of the PNC.

The committee voted separately on the two nominations, with both receiving unanimous support from members present at the meeting, according to the parliamentary secretariat.

The Budget Committee is a joint committee comprising members of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee and Economic Committee.

It has 22 members, of whom 16 attended Wednesday's meeting.

This marks Saleem's second consecutive appointment as chair of the Budget Committee.

When the first Budget Committee of the 20th Parliament was formed, Fazad was elected chair, while Saleem served as deputy chair.

The committee is responsible for examining the proposed national budget before Parliament considers its recommendations and proceeds with the budget approval process.