Gov’t Omits Project Details From Budgets to Better Align Development With Public Needs, Says Finance Minister

Finance Minister Moosa Zameer has stated that the government has deliberately excluded individual project details from this year’s and next year’s budgets to better align development with public needs.

The remarks were made during a briefing to the State Budget Review Committee, following concerns raised by Auditor General Hussain Niyazi. Niyazi had highlighted that the proposed 2026 budget lacks a clear policy framework for increasing revenue and reducing expenditure.

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Zameer said the Finance Ministry had shared budget information with the Auditor General and noted that many projects initiated by the current administration are expected to be completed next year.

When questioned by Kanditheemu MP Ameen Faisal regarding stalled projects in his constituency, Zameer said efforts would be made to identify and address them.

Committee members repeatedly asked why project-level details were absent from the budget. Zameer explained that under President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, the government prioritises direct engagement with communities rather than focusing solely on project listings.

He added that challenges in island health centres, for example, can only be fully understood through on-site visits, rather than from the capital. He emphasised that the government aims to deliver services according to the needs of the people, and that mechanisms to achieve this are now in place.

Zameer concluded by noting that the Maldives’ project implementation model will differ from those used in other countries.