KATHMANDU, JUNE 29

President Bidhya Devi Bhandari said the report of the Office of Auditor General indicated the increasing size of arrears, suggesting the need for a campaign to downsize it.

The head-of-the-state in her address to the 64th anniversary of the OAG here today underlined the need of fiscal discipline to prevent arrears.

'Economic fairness will help establish good governance,' the president said, seeking the attention of all bodies concerned towards that end. The president insisted on transparency in public finance behaviours, acknowledging the role of OAG report in making public finance management effective.

As the president said, authorities ranging from the federal to local government should take the issues raised in the OAG report seriously.

Also speaking on the occasion, Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said the government was effortful to clear arrears and to enhance fiscal management.

The ministry was at work to settle arrears worth Rs 676 billion that remained so far, he added. 'The issues of arrears clearance has been accorded priority in policies and programmes and budget for the upcoming fiscal year and the OAG will be provided necessary physical and financial assistance for the same.'

She drew the attention of the government to the need to control unnecessary expenditures on foreign trips and to be frugal at a time when the country is reeling under economic difficulties.

Similarly, Auditor General Tanka Mani Sharma (Dangal) shared that reports prepared through electronic auditing would be released from this year. Stating that the OAG could not observe office anniversary due to COVID-19 risks, he shared that a total of seven staffers were awarded this year for best performance.

'Separate audit report of COVID-19 would be made public soon. The OAG had adopted risk-based auditing system from this year,' he said. It was shared that no encouraging work could be accomplished to clear arrears this year.