Parliament has accepted for consideration the bill to abolish import duty on diesel used in vessels and to generate electricity.

The bill to bring amendments to the Maldives import-export law was accepted with the votes of 56 MPs and has been forwarded for committee review.

After proposing the bill Thimarafushi MP Mohamed Musthafa said that state income will significantly reduce following the termination of import duty on petrol and diesel but that it will benefits the citizens.

A majority of MPs has stressed on the importance of slashing the price of diesel and petrol. Vilufushi MP Rasheed said that this bill must not be misused and details on the termination of import duty on diesel must be publicized.

Riyaz said that details must be shared on “who will benefit from this. Will this implementation slash diesel prices for transport? It is being stated that duty will be abolished for the private bodies that generate electricity. However, there are almost no more private bodies who provide electricity services. However, resorts do use this method. So, we need to be clear if those using diesel will receive a ten percent slash on prices or if duty is being abolished overall. These details need to be shared.”

Abolishing import duty on diesel as well as slashing the price of electricity is part of President Solih’s first 100-day agenda.