Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Dec 16, SPA -- Tajikistan's parliament hasapproved the Central Asian nation's 2005 budget,significantly increasing spending on border protection,defense and law enforcement, officials said. The budget, passed by Parliament on Wednesday, envisionsrevenues at 1.256 billion somoni, or about US$430 million(¤320 million), a 37 percent increase from 2004, said thegovernment's press office. Expenditures are forecast at 1.291 billion somoni, aboutUS$440 million (¤328 million). Prime Minister Akil Akilov told Parliament Wednesday thataccording to the budget expenditures on border controlwould increase by 100 percent and on defense and lawenforcement by 45 percent. The nation's 2005 budget also envisages a 50 percentincrease of expenditures on social needs, Akilov said. The inflation rate is expected to be around 6 percent,according to the budget. Forecast GDP growth figure was notannounced. Tajikistan is one of the poorest Central Asiannations. President Emomali Rakhmonov is expected to sign the budgetbefore the end of the month.--SPA1407 Local Time 1107 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/225364