Kathmandu, July 9

Minister of Finance Gyanendra Bahadur Karki today told the Parliament that the local levels could get more budget from next year if they performed well.

Responding to queries and comments by lawmakers over this year’s budgetary allocations Minister Karki said, “For this year, the government allocated the budget as seed amount as it lacked clear idea about the actual competence of local levels.”

He said equal amount of budget was distributed to same categories of local levels mainly because the commission for distribution of natural resources and finance among center, province and local levels was  yet to be formed.

Minister Karki told the Parliament that the new budget focused on strengthening federalism.

“The volume of the budget is a bit large as it allocated relief fund for the earthquake victims,” he said.

The minister further said the budget had given priority to control revenue leakage, promote collection of taxes, increase domestic product, modernise agriculture and end load shedding.

Minister Karki also informed the House that police organisations would be restructured as per the federal system. He also said all jails across the country would be improved gradually.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Law Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Gopal Man Shrestha said the government had set the target of improving the country’s education system. He admitted that budget allocated for education sector was less than required.

Some other ministers also responded to lawmakers’ queries and comments. The next meeting of the Parliament has been scheduled for 11:00am tomorrow.