Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati chairs a cabinet meeting Thursday at the Grand Serail. (Credit: Dalati and Nohra)
BEIRUT — The cabinet continued its examination of the preliminary budget plan for 2022 on Thursday and is scheduled to meet next week in Baabda to approve it, acting Information Minister Abbas Halabi said following a cabinet meeting Thursday morning, the state-run National News Agency reported.
Here’s what we know:
• The cabinet agreed to adjust the customs dollar exchange rate to align with the central bank’s Sayrafa platform rate in the 2022 budget, exempting food and medicine imports in the decision, Halabi added.
• As for the advance noted in the draft budget for the electricity sector, Halabi said it was decided to postpone its approval until a reform plan is prepared by the energy minister and presented to cabinet in a special session.
• The cabinet has been holding regular meetings since Jan. 24 in an effort to approve the 2022 budget, a prerequisite for any International Monetary Fund financial rescue package for the country. Concurrently, official discussions between a Lebanese negotiating team and the International Monetary Fund have been ongoing since late January.