Zameer: Project details left out to reflect public needs

Finance Minister Moosa Zameer on Monday said the government has intentionally excluded individual project details from this year’s and next year’s budgets to better align development with public needs.

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

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

When questioned by Kanditheemu MP Ameen Faisal about 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 missing from the budget. Zameer explained that the government’s approach under President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu prioritizes direct engagement with communities.

“In the past, it wasn’t customary for a president to visit every island. But under President Muizzu’s leadership, we’re working closely with the people, in the way they want,” Zameer said.

He added that issues in island health centers, for example, can only be understood through on-site visits, not from the capital. “We want to deliver services in the way people need them, and I believe the mechanism to do that is now in place,” he said.

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