Birgunj, April 8

Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel today said the first budget after the promulgation of the new constitution would focus on ensuring implementation of the charter.

Speaking at an interaction programme organised in Birgunj, Minister Paudel said the government was working to bring the new budget during a very challenging time.

“The deadly earthquakes and months-long blockade at border points had made implementation of the new constitution difficult. Thus, the new budget will accord top priority to implementation of the new constitution,” said Paudel. He stated that the government had to formulate programmes to expedite economic prosperity with limited budget as it had a monumental task to reconstruct structures that were damaged in the earthquakes last year.

State Minister for Industry Meghraj Nishad expressed worry about complaints that government agencies were harassing the private sector on various pretexts. Industrialists speaking at the programme complained that Nepal was yet to adopt free market practice policies. They said syndicates were in existence that are against free market competition.