Kathmandu: Members of the Finance Committee under the House of Representatives have urged the government to disclose the expenditures related to USAID programmes in Nepal. Lawmaker Ganga Karki emphasized the necessity for transparency, especially in light of accusations made by US President Donald Trump regarding alleged ‘fraud’ in aid implementation.
According to National News Agency Nepal, discussions at the Committee meeting revealed that the funds were reportedly managed through the Natural Resources and Finance Commission. It was suggested that this commission should address the concerns raised about the expenditure of aid funds. Gyanendra Bahadur Karki proposed that it is vital to understand the context in which the US President mentioned the alleged ‘fraud.’ He further noted that the US-funded Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact, signed during his tenure as the Finance Minister, had been endorsed by the parliament. Karki also highlighted the importance of concluding the bills currently under discussion in the Finance Committee.
Surya Bahadur Thapa Chhetri expressed that the US President’s statement should be debated in the House, rather than the Committee, as it pertains to a parliamentary issue. He suggested that the Ministry of Finance could provide detailed expenditure information related to USAID. Chhetri also pointed out that the committee meetings often exceed their timelines and tend to focus on discussions beyond the agenda, leading to reduced effectiveness.