Egyptian Parliament advances tax, health insurance reforms and Beni Hawa metro study

The Egyptian House of Representatives opened its public session under Speaker Hisham Badawi to consider two draft laws: an amendment to the 2005 Income Tax Law aimed at updating provisions on bad debts, securities and offering tax benefits to holding companies, and a revision of the Comprehensive Health Insurance Law that would treat the solidarity contribution as taxable revenue collected by the tax authority and transferred to the health insurance fund.

In the same session lawmakers examined several presidential decrees, including a financing agreement with the European Investment Bank for the first line extension of the Cairo Metro, a judicial cooperation treaty with Qatar, and the designation of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent legal status in Egypt. The parliament also discussed licensing bills for new oil and gas contracts with international partners and the hosting of ICLARM research centres.

Separately, a proposal by MP Ihab Imam secured approval to move the Beni Hawa metro project to the technical study phase. A joint committee comprising the Ministry of Transport, the General Authority for Roads and Bridges, Benha University and the Qalyubia governorate will prepare feasibility studies and cost‑benefit analyses ahead of future implementation.