Pun in favour of timely budget

KATHMANDU, JUN 08 - Although the disruption of the parliament by opposition parties, including the UCPN (Maoist), has foiled the government’s plan to present the budget by mid-June, former finance minister and Maoist leader Barsa Man Pun has stood in favour of timely budget presentation.

“The budget should be presented on time irrespective of the political situation,” he said at an interaction here on Saturday.

Pun, who also failed to present a full budget for two consecutive fiscal years, said a finance minister should always be allowed to present the budget no matter what. “Succeeding government may rather revise the budget.”

Pun, however, said the government should first implement the four-point agreement reached between the parties, including formation of a high-level political committee and a parliamentary committee to investigate the second constituent assembly election.

As it takes at least 15 days for pre-budget discussion, presentation of principles and programmes, and policies and programmes before the budget presentation, the parliament obstruction has hindered all the budget process. The opposition parties are demanding the implementation of the four-point agreement and protesting the alleged transfer of budget to the cadres of ruling parties.

On Thursday, Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat confirmed the government’s plan to introduce the budget by mid-June was no longer possible and that it had to be rescheduled.

Finance Secretary Yubaraj Bhusal said the budget could be introduced by June-end if the house obstruction ended on Sunday. He said the government has given high priority to electricity and road. “North-South roads, including Koshi Highway, Mechi Highway and Kaligandaki Corridor, among others, will get adequate budget,” he said.

As the government seeking to graduate Nepal to a developing country by 2022, development of infrastructure has been given high priority.

(Source: The Kathmandu Post)