Budget receives mixed reactions from lawmakers

Kathmandu / June 3: Lawmakers have expressed mixed reactions to the budget announced for the upcoming fiscal year.

Taking part in general deliberations on the estimations of the government’s income and expenditure for the fiscal year 2024-25 in a meeting of the House of Representatives on Monday, Ashok Kumar Chaudhary of Rastriya Swatantra Party said the budget is not realistic. Accusing the government of overlooking the sports sector in the budget speech, he also demanded a substantive approach to promote the agricultural sector.

According to Sher Bahadur Kunwar of the CPN (Unified Socialist), the budget, introduced amid an economic slowdown, is expected to encounter implementation challenges. “On the one hand, the capital deficit persists, while on the other, the capital flight looms large. Our primary focus should be on managing the capital crisis.”

Gyan Bahadur Shahi of Rastriya Prajatantra Party said the budget is expected to focus more on job creation and the development of the agriculture sector.

He proposed to implement a separate provision for the development of the mountain region as only two months Baisakh (mid-April to mid-May) and Jestha (mid- May to mid-June June) are favorable for undertaking development endeavors in the region.