ONE –THIRD BUDGET MEANT FOR AVOIDING POLITICAL CONFRONTATION: PUN

Kathmandu, July 16: Finance Minister Barshaman Pun has said that the government had brought a one-third budget keeping in mind the political consensus.
Taking part in a face-to-face programme at the Nepal Reporters’ Club, he said the government decided to bring the special budget to avoid possible confrontation at the political level.

He added that the one-third budget was brought as per the consent from the political parties.

The Finance Minister further said that the announcement of the one-third budget would help open a door to political consensus and hold fresh elections to the Constituent Assembly successfully.

“The budget for the current fiscal year has continued the previous programmes. All the economic indexes are good and foreign aid is on the pipeline, so there is no need to panic,” added Pun.

This year’s budget has not incorporated new programmes since it is a special one, he said, adding that budget has been managed for the voluntary retirement of the Maoist former combatants, and formation of the NA Directorate General and new ministries.

Minister Pun expressed his belief that the budget has opened a door to political consensus.

Also speaking at the programme, former minister Dr Bhesh Bahadur Thapa said though the one-third budget was the compulsion of constitutional and political crisis in the country, budget of such nature is not good for the country. RSS