Beirut: Lebanon's Finance Minister, Yassine Jaber, on Wednesday announced that the 2026 draft state budget shall be balanced between estimated revenues and expenditures, with no deficit in the treasury. Minister Jaber also pointed out that "the set draft budget includes, in addition to the basic necessities for state expenditures, some development projects that serve to stimulate the investment process in accordance with basic needs, in consultation with the relevant ministries."
According to National News Agency - Lebanon, Jaber mentioned that the improvement in revenues, which came as a result of the reform measures taken by the Ministry of Finance, including efforts to combat tax evasion and improve customs procedures, has significantly increased treasury revenues. This increase has helped the Ministry of Finance begin disbursing allocations for reconstruction and infrastructure rehabilitation in areas damaged by Israeli attacks, in addition to raising the level of contributions in health, social, and educational services.
Jaber stressed that the Ministry of Finance is committed to submitting the draft budget in line with the constitutional deadline and will submit it to the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers in the coming days, by the end of August. This submission is intended for the Council of Ministers to discuss and approve before the beginning of October, to be subsequently sent to Parliament. Minister Jaber has been following up on the final arrangements for the draft budget in successive meetings with relevant directors at the ministry to conclude its final form.
On the other hand, Minister Jaber met with the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Resident Representative in Lebanon, Frederico Lima, in his office at the Ministry. The discussion reportedly touched on the budget issue and Lebanon's preparations for the fall meeting of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, which will be held in Washington in early October. The discussion also included areas of modernization and development undertaken by the Ministry in coordination with the Fund. Jaber later received the Board Chairman and Director General of La Regie Libanaise Des Tabacs Et Tombacs (Regie) Engineer Nassif Seklaoui, who briefed him on the course of work at La Regie.