Lawmakers on Sunday said that the rejection of the budget plan for the second time occurred for many reasons, namely the ambiguity around a Afs15 billion ($193.8 million) increase in the ordinary budget for the current fiscal year that started on December 21. 

The financial and budget committee of the Wolesi Jirga, the lower house of parliament, said that, based on the budget plan, the government is removing 13,000 public servants, but it has increased the ordinary budget—from which the salaries of government employees are paid. 

The parliament on Saturday rejected the budget plan for the second time, calling on the government to consider their recommendations to an amended draft.   

Another amendment to the budget plan is an addition of Afs5 billion ($64.6 million) to the development budget. 

“There were 13,000 jobs cut in the second draft in the government structure… A document sent to us shows that the ordinary budget has increased to Afs311 billion ($4 billion) from Afs295 billion ($3.8 billion),” said Mohammad Azim Keberzani, the secretary of the budget and finance commission of the parliament. 

The Finance Ministry said the Afs15 billion addition is for ensuring the needs of security and defense agencies. 

“Afs11 billion ($142 million) is from the assistance of the Combined Security Transition Command – Afghanistan (CSTC-A) to the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Interior Affairs and Afs3.5 billion ($45 million) is from the government’s budget for fuel and other needs of the institutions,” said Shamroz Khan Masjidi, spokesman for Ministry of Finance. 

Experts said the continued face off between the government and the parliament over the budget is concerning. 

“This mistrust between the government and the legislative branch is not in favor of the government,” economic affairs analyst Abdul Qadir Jailani said. 

The parliament has warned that it will not approve the budget plan unless its recommendations are considered in an amended draft.