Minister of Finance thanks Qatar for generous grant to cover part of current salaries

Damascus, SANA-Finance Minister Dr. Mohammad Yusr Barniyeh expressed his gratitude to the Qatari government for the generous grant to cover part of the current wage and salary bill, totaling $29 million per month for three months, subject to extension.

Minister Barniyeh explained in a statement to SANA reporter that the grant will cover the salaries of workers in the health, education, and social affairs sectors, as well as non-military retirees.

The Minister of Finance indicated that the grant was exempted from U.S. sanctions, expressing his thanks to the U.S. Treasury Department for its swift response in facilitating the grant. He hoped this would be followed by other steps to boost confidence and further measures to ease the sanctions.

Minister Barniyeh explained that the grant will be managed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and covers approximately one-fifth of the current wage and salary bill. He said, “We are proceeding with financial reform to enhance integrity and confidence in our financial system.”

Reem Abdulhameed / Ruaa al-Jazaeri