KATHMANDU, May 16: The first meeting of the Finance Committee under the Federal Parliament took place on Tuesday. The committee members discussed the activities to be carried out by the government through policies, programmes and budget of the upcoming fiscal year for improving the current situation of the economy.
Lawmakers specially stressed on various issues including the country's current economic situation, course of action for the upcoming year's policies, programmes and budget, corruption control and good governance. During the meeting, the MPs also raised the issue of appointment of lawmakers in parliamentary committees with conflicting interest and allegations of irregularities in distribution of new licenses of stock exchange.
Speaking at the meeting, former Finance Minister and lawmaker Bishnu Prasad Poudel urged the finance minister to implement suggestions of the parliamentary committee at a time when the country's economy is in crisis. Poudel further said the Finance Committee could provide some policy-level suggestions about the budget and the government should move ahead with the committee's support in such a difficult situation.
Stating that the economy is in crisis due to the past policies and practices, another former Finance Minister and lawmaker Gyanendra Bahadur Karki mentioned that the country's economy should be improved by forming short-term, mid-term and long-term policies.
Similarly, lawmaker Padam Giri stressed that the committee should inquire about the past studies and its implementation status regarding the new stock exchange and broker license.
“The committee should immediately carry out a study as there is doubt of financial irregularities while granting new stock and broker license,” he opined.
Likewise, lawmaker Gyan Bahadur Shahi expressed the view that the committee should be informed about the measures taken by the government to improve the economy.
"The finance minister should be called in the next meeting of the committee and he should inform the committee about the measures taken by the government to improve the economy," he shared.
Biraj Bhakta Shrestha and Narayan Prasad Acharya raised the issue of conflict of interest in the appointment of members to the parliamentary committee. "Conflict of interest foments policy-level corruption. Moreover, there is a conflict of interest in one or the other Finance Committee. We should consider such issues as well even for promoting fiscal good governance," Shrestha elaborated.
Acharya demanded that the issue of appointment of lawmakers in the committee showing conflict of interest should be taken seriously.
Narayani Sharma said that since the Finance Committee is a forum to question the present situation of the economy and seek solutions, the agendas and the topics to be discussed in the meeting should be well prioritized.
MP Chhiring Damdul Lama (Bhote) stressed that the parliamentary committee members should rise above partisan lines and forge common opinion through cooperation and coordination among each other on issues of national interest.
Deepak Khadka echoed Lama and stressed on making the works of the committee effective and efficient.
Purna Bahadur Tamang urged the government to make some important announcements through the budget for the next fiscal year regarding increasing the use of electric vehicles and electric ovens. He stressed replacing the old taxis with electric ones in the Kathmandu Valley.
Ganga Karki opined that the problems seen in the economy at present were not recent but the results of the wrong policies and working style. "Corruption, rent-seeking and commission mongering are the present problems," she said and suggested massive cut back on unnecessary expenditure.
Mukta Kumari Yadav pointed out the need of presenting common suggestions through the Finance Committee for the improvement of the economy.
Anjani Shrestha and Rana Kumari Balampaki Magar called for stopping youths’ exodus to foreign countries, increasing domestic production by operating factories and industries and promoting collective farming and cattle rearing for increasing production.
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