The Cabinet Secretariat denies imposing a tax system on citizens.

The General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers denied on Thursday the imposition of a tax system on citizens.

In a statement, the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers said, "What has been circulating on some social media sites regarding the imposition of a tax system on citizens and the prohibition of any transactions in government departments until electricity and water bills have been paid is inaccurate and misleading."

The statement clarified that "the Council of Ministers has not issued any decision to impose taxes on citizens. The aforementioned decision concerns business owners, factories, and government agencies, in implementation of Article 18/First, Third of the General Budget Law, which was voted on by the House of Representatives. This decision falls within the framework of supporting the industrial sector and activating the private sector, and confirms the government's commitment to implementing existing laws and implementing their provisions with fairness and transparency."

The statement indicated that "what has been circulated falls within the framework of media campaigns of defamation and misinformation aimed at distorting facts and confusing public opinion," stressing that "the government is proceeding with implementing its service and development programs in the interest of all citizens."

The General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers called on the media and citizens not to be drawn into rumours and unreliable information.