Kathmandu, March 4

The Federal Parliament is all set to pass three bills — Foreign Investment and Technology Transfer Bill, Public Private Partnership and Investment Bill, and amendment to the Special Economic Zone Act — without sending them for clause-wise discussion to the thematic committees.

“Unlike other bills, these three bills will be fast-tracked for endorsement as they need to be passed for the upcoming Investment Summit slated for March 29 and 30,” Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Shiva Maya Tumbahamphe told The Himalayan Times.

As the winter session of Parliament is ending by mid-March, there are only two weeks left for both House of Representatives and National Assembly to pass these bills.

“We are planning to pass these three bills within seven days without suspending any rule,” Deputy Speaker Tumbahamphe clarified.

According to her, the House won’t send these bills to the thematic committees for discussion. The fast-track process will entertain amendments, if any, for immediate discussion, she added.

There had been criticism when the Parliament passed 16 fundamental rights bills by suspending rules, in the past. “So, none of the rules will be suspended this time.”

National Assembly Secretary Rajendra Phuyal said the NA will follow regular process of endorsing the bills. “Due to time constraints, NA might not send these to the panels.”

Main opposition Nepali Congress lawmakers and member of House of Representatives Business Committee Dilendra Badu said his party would help the government pass these bills as they are required for the Investment Summit. “But we don’t know why the government brought these bills so late,” he said.

To expedite the process, the Parliament Secretariat has planned three different meetings for Tuesday. Two meetings will discuss the bills, while another will pass condolence motion on the demise of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) leader and former minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari. The Parliament, which was supposed to be adjourned on March 3, has been extended till mid-March at the government’s special request.