Former Finance Ministers in favor of full budget

KATHMANDU: Former Finance Ministers have claimed that the current election government cannot bring new policy and programs through the new budget. They also claimed that the current government cannot take decision to increase the criteria of tax.

Speaking at an interaction at Reporters Club today, they said this government also should give continuity to the old policy and programs.

Former Finance Minister and UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari said the government should bring a full-size budget as the country’s economic condition was too poor.

He urged the government to increase the budget in energy, infrastructure development, foregin investment, export promotion and local development projects.

Likewise, UCPN (Maoist) leader and former Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun said there should be no politicking in budget.

He however suggested that the current government should not bring budget by shifting the policy.

Nepali Congress leader and former Energy Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat said that full budget was required to give a free flow to the economy. He said energy and development of transmission line should be prioritized in the budget.

Former Finance Minister and and leader of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Dr Prakash Chandra Lohani slammed the President’s directive to bring only one-third budget. “Full budget should be brought not the one-third budget,” he added.

Club’s Chairman Rishi Dhama Chaired the interaction program.

Likewise, advisor of the Finance Ministry Dr Chiranjibi Nepal said the size of budget would be Rs 506 billion and it would come in time. He said some major but programs there were not prioritized in the past would be introduced in this budget.

He also made it clear that the President has not directed the Finance Ministry to bring only one-third budget.