While briefing NDC members on the performance of the Social Fund for Development on Wednesday, the fund’s Director, Abdullah Al-Dailami, said it was facing a budget deficit of $189 million.

Members of the Development Working Group’s public and private sector committee listened as Al-Dailami provided an update on the status of the Social Fund for Development. On this note, he said that 14,000 projects had been completed in conjunction with the fund, and also that about 83,000 microfinance borrowers were registered with the fund’s offices.

Al-Dailami also described how legislation, weak security and limited databases had continued to pose challenges to the fund’s performance.

Separately, the anti-corruption committee - part of the NDC’s Good Governance Working Group - asked Customs Authority officials to identify major smugglers and arms dealers who were involved with illegal arms cargoes which were recently seized

During its visit to the Customs Authority, also on Wednesday, the committee requested that officials prepare a ‘vision’ of improved legislation which could help to address and alleviate past legislative shortcomings.

On a separate visit to Yemen’s Tax Authority headquarters, the same committee discussed measures which could be taken to reign in major traders who avoid paying their fair share of taxes.

For their part, senior Tax Authority officials said they have to contend with interference from powerful figures when attempting to carry out their duties.