Al-Anbat - The Lower House of Parliament kicked off a debate on the 2019 draft state budget and the budgets of independent government units on Sunday, in a session attended by Prime Minister Omar Razzaz and cabinet members.

During the session, chaired by house Speaker Atif Tarawneh, MP Khalid Bakkar, who chairs the legislature's Finance Committee, underlined the need to shift from "collection" approach towards a growth and development budget. 

"The finance panel conditioned the government to make a disclosure of mega investment projects that could realize growth, and are not funded by the budget but through the Build–operate–transfer (BOT), or financial leasing arrangements", Bakkar told the session.

Also, among the conditions the panel proposed to the government, are a breakdown of sales tax cuts on a number of basic commodities, in addition to funding solar energy ventures for low-income earners, so that they could access 300 kilowatts of electricity free of charge.

The panel recommendations also included a re-examination of "differences in fuel prices", and to raise the minimum wages to keep pace with the cost of living.

Moreover, the committee demanded improved logistic services of the tourism sector, activate the role of ambassadors in spurring investments, develop King Hussein International Airport and encourage low-cost aviation.

It also urged support to the agriculture sector, open up new markets for agriculture produces, sustain conciliation on tax and customs issues and set up industrial estates with electricity at reduced cost to make products more competitive.