Kathmandu: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Bishnu Prasad Paudel, has clarified that the Principles and Priorities of the Appropriation Bill were determined based on the economic status and resource management capacity of the country. Responding to the queries of parliamentarians regarding the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill (excluding tax proposal) for the fiscal year 2082/83, he stated that the government was moving ahead by internalizing the current realities.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Finance Minister Paudel explained that the upcoming budget would be directed towards addressing the national aspiration of socialism based on democratic values and the vision of ‘prosperous Nepal, happy Nepali’. The emphasis would be placed on enhancing production with equal access and poverty alleviation. Minister Paudel stressed the necessity of adopting a special approach for building a self-reliant economy in coordination with the public, private, and cooperative sectors.
Finance Minister Paudel highlighted the importance of boosting the morale of the private sector, enhancing self-confidence, creating employment opportunities, and improving productivity and competitiveness to build a self-reliant economy. The upcoming budget would focus on sustainable and rapid economic development, ensuring the full implementation of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.
Special attention has been given to effective coordination and cooperation among the three-tier governments, with an emphasis on budget discipline and public finance management. The goal is to ensure that citizens can receive easy and tech-friendly services, with access to technology, good governance, and corruption control. Minister Paudel also mentioned the introduction of effective programs to address unemployment, elevate the status of people living below the poverty line, promote self-employment, and devise policies to expand investment, enhance production, and increase national income.
The budget is expected to implement measures to achieve anticipated progress in the agriculture, tourism, and industrial development sectors through the expansion of the digital economy. In a different context, Paudel clarified that the government would not recognize crony capitalism. The issues raised during the pre-budget discussions in parliament and the inputs of the parliamentarians would be reflected in the budget to be presented on May 28. The next meeting of the HoR is scheduled for 11.00 am on May 18.