Minister of Planning Dr. Abdul Wahab Attar today praised the national budget of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the fiscal year 1416-1417 (1996) as reflecting the wise policy pursued by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz in order to accomplish economic stability.

Dr. Attar stated that the supreme directives reaffirm the importance of the combined efforts of all officials in the country to reduce government spending by means of improvement of the administrative and productive abilities of all government bodies which would lead to a decline in expenditure while preserving the level and availability of services, adding that there is a clear and growing index that this policy of rationalization has proved its effectiveness and has accomplished positive results which, in turn, have contributed to supporting the country's economic stability. This policy, he said, has attracted the appreciation of and recognition by a number of international associations and economic establishments.

Dr. Attar reported that this year's budget focuses on greater spending on the development of human resources through education and training, adding that the social services and health sectors have also been given priority, reflecting the attention given to them by the government. Commenting that the figures in the current budget affirm, in general terms, the concern of the Kingdom, under the leadership of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd Bin Abdul Aziz and Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, to the building up of the nation's productive capabilities, Dr. Attar said: "This year's budget is a practical translation of the government's resolve to accomplish economic and social stability as well as lift up the country and its citizens in all spheres."

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