The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Dr Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, has announced that the current Administration has cleared liabilities exceeding MVR 50 million inherited by the ministry when it assumed office in November 2023.

In a statement shared on social media, Dr Shaheem said the ministry had inherited outstanding bills of MVR 30 million, and when combined with unbilled expenses, the total reached MVR 50 million, with more than half immediately payable to various companies for services already provided.

The revelation comes against the backdrop of wider national financial challenges. The Government has reported that total arrears owed to local companies across different sectors stood at MVR 9 billion at the time of transition. Additionally, approximately MVR 260 million was owed to local fishermen, a debt that has since been settled.

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, who assumed office on 17 November 2023, has pledged to settle all outstanding bills owed to local businesses within the coming weeks as part of ongoing efforts to stabilise the economy and restore financial confidence.