Finance Minister urges lawmakers to comment only after studying budget documents 

Kathmandu. Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle has urged the government to hold discussions on the Appropriation Bill after carrying out a thorough study on it.

Responding to the queries raised by lawmakers on the budget in the House of Representatives on Friday, he said it seemed that some lawmakers did not receive the ‘thin booklet’ of the Appropriation Bill. He said, “Even though I have received the book, I feel that my opinion has been formed after listening to the overall budget allocation and the details presented instead of commenting on it.” ’

Responding to the questions raised about the budget allocated for the indigenous nationalities, he said that the details have been clearly mentioned in Schedule 2. “I heard that nothing was put in there, but if the discussion had been done on the basis of the document, the debate would have been more focused,” he said.

He said that the lawmakers could put their suggestions and concerns in the ministry in the coming days as detailed discussions would be held in the presence of the concerned ministers on education, health, physical infrastructure, drinking water and other sectors.

He said, “The development interests of many respected people will come now. Education, health, physical infrastructure, drinking water and other matters will be put before the concerned minister in the ministerial discussions. ’