Finance Minister asserts: Budget prioritizes making Nepalis happy

Kathmandu. May 14: House of Representatives concluded the discussion on the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2076/77.

Responding to the questions asked by the lawmakers in course of discussions on the Bill in the today’s meeting of the House of Representatives, Finance Minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada said the budget has been made on the basis of the political and economic system that the country has adopted.

The Finance Minister also stressed that the size of the budget will be determined on the basis of the balance between the development aspirations and means and resources.

Finance Minister Khatiwada made it clear that the budget allocation will be made on the basis of policy, plan and action rather than based on regional.

He said the questions related to the state principles, fundamental rights, press freedom and human rights will be adequately discussed in the parliament in course of making laws in the coming days, adding that the government is committed to implementing the laws already legislated by parliament.

In the meeting, Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara said the issues raised and the suggestions proposed by lawmakers on the Appropriation Bill will be integrated and forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for its consideration.

Earlier taking part in the discussions Nepali Congress leader Pradeep Giri has said that development and prosperity would be limited only in slogan if the policies and programmes as well as budget, appropriate for the country, are not brought.

Likewise, Nepal Communist Party (NCP) lawmaker Agni Prasad Sapkota has underscored the need of carrying out a thorough investigation to stamp out the growing corruption in the country.

Meanwhile, Chief Whip of the main opposition party, Nepali Congress, Balkrishna Khand said the Media Council Bill should be retracted as it has been brought with an intention of restricting the press freedom. (RSS)