Kathmandu : Minister for Finance, Dr Swarnim Wagle, asserted that the upcoming budget, to be presented on every 15th of Nepali month Jestha, will focus on economic transformation.
Minister Dr Wagle said so in a discussion held at his office at Singha Durbar on Monday with representatives of the Nepal Association of Financial Journalists (NAFIJ).
Shedding light on the incumbent government’s viewpoints on current economic, policy and contemporary issues, the Minister asserted that the current government’s policy is aimed at ensuring economic governance alongside political governance.
According to him, the upcoming budget will include important measures regarding the management of the state-owned enterprises.
He also apprised the economic journalists that discussions were underway on the modality under which some enterprises, including the Gorkhapattra Corporation, will be operated.
Noting that certain groups had grown unsettling lately due to the government’s ongoing investigations related to money laundering, he pledged to strengthen the investigations further. He also cautioned that necessary action will be taken against those involved in illegal transactions. Furthermore, he shared that such investigations were initiated to remove the country from the Financial Action Task Force’s ‘grey list’. Minister Dr Wagle added that similar cases that were long pending and were stalled for years were being moved forward.
On a different note, the Minister said that the government has been observing necessary precautions in light of the escalating conflict in the Middle East and has already decided to grant a two-day public holiday per week in public offices effective from today.
The cabinet meeting convened yesterday (Sunday) reached this decision with the aim of reducing fuel consumption and promoting economic austerity in the face of challenges arising from the irregular supply of petroleum products in the country.
The Finance Minister, during the discussion, also said that the government, rather than attempting to repatriate over 2.5 million Nepalis in conflict-affected countries, is prioritizing the rescue of those stranded ones or in dire straits.
On the occasion, Menuka Karki, President of NAFIJ, urged the government to introduce policies and programmes that could significantly boost economic developments, citing the big-size budgets often face implementation challenges.
