Finance minister took suggestions from 7 former finance ministers about the budget

Kathmandu: Finance Minister Barshman Pun has sought counsel from former finance ministers regarding the budget for the upcoming financial year 2081/082.

In a meeting held in Baneshwar, Minister Pun gathered insights from esteemed predecessors including Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani, Dr. Prakasharan Mahat, Dr. Yuvraj Khatiwada, Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Surendra Pandey, Janardhan Sharma, and Shankar Prasad Koirala.

The former ministers advised against crafting an overly ambitious budget, emphasizing the need for realism and practicality.

Additionally, they cautioned against inflating the budget size and urged careful allocation, especially for projects lacking proper preparation.

Outgoing Finance Minister Mahat underscored the importance of avoiding delayed commitments and cautioned against undue expansion, highlighting the risk of implementation failure.

Dr. Khatiwada stressed the detrimental effects of a bloated budget and urged Minister Pun to resist populist tendencies.

Former minister Dr. Lohani highlighted the broader context, stating that economic improvement requires concerted efforts from all sectors, including political stability and active policymaking.

Minister Pun affirmed his commitment to integrating these suggestions into the budgetary process, aiming for development and governance coherence while ensuring fiscal responsibility.

With input from predecessors, the stage is set for a budget that balances national priorities with prudent financial management.