KATHMANDU: Former Finance Ministers have suggested that the government present an interim budget as the issue of restoration of the parliament is sub-judice at Supreme Court.
A meeting of a forum of former Finance Ministers held Wednesday concluded that a full budget could not be brought through ordinance.
The forum consists of former Finance Ministers Ram Sharan Mahat, Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Surendra Pandey, Barsha Man Pun and Prakash Chandra Lohani.
Issuing a joint statement, the leaders said a full budget cannot be brought as the country is going through a transition phase where there is a caretaker government in place and the Supreme Court has yet to give its verdict on parliament dissolution.
They also suggested that the budget should give first priority to the availability of vaccines against coronavirus at a time when the country is reeling under Covid-19 health crisis.
They added budget should pay special attention to the construction of health infrastructures, availability of health materials and safety and facilities of health workers.
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