The government presented the proposed 2011 budget to the Lower House of parliament for approval Sunday (March 6th), The Jordan Times reported. If passed, the $9 billion budget will allow the government to increase spending in the poorest parts of the country as well as creating new employment opportunities, Finance Minister Mohammed Abu Hammour told the parliament.

The projected deficit will be 5.5% of the gross domestic product.

The new budget proposal replaces a former version prepared last October that did not account for increased spending to tackle social problems highlighted by weeks of public protests. The government's new aid package increases salaries for public sector workers and reinstates subsidies for some basic commodities.