Lawmakers set to debate key political issues in upcoming session

KATHMANDU: The new session of the Federal Parliament is set to begin on Monday, May 11.

President Ramchandra Paudel has already summoned sessions of both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly for 2 pm on Monday at Singha Durbar on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers.

As construction of the new Federal Parliament building has not yet been completed, the House of Representatives meeting will once again be held in the multipurpose hall of the under-construction Parliament building.

Similarly, the National Assembly session will continue to operate from the existing National Assembly hall within the Parliament Secretariat premises.

Parliament Secretariat spokesperson Ekaram Giri said the contractor company involved in the construction of the new Parliament building has verbally informed authorities that the House of Representatives chamber will be ready by May 29, when the government is scheduled to present the national budget during a joint sitting of Parliament.

“The Secretariat also expects the budget to be presented in a more systematic manner from the new chamber,” Giri said.

According to him, technical work including painting, interior decoration, and installation of modern equipment is currently underway at the new House chamber.

During the upcoming parliamentary session, the government’s annual policy and program as well as the national budget will be presented.

The session will also include pre-budget discussions, deliberations on the government’s policy and program, the Appropriation Bill, the Finance Bill, and the Public Debt Bill.

Lawmakers are expected to raise contemporary political and public issues through emergency motions, special sessions, zero hour discussions, and question-answer sessions held regularly during the session.

Bills intended to replace ordinances issued in recent months will also be tabled during the session. Under constitutional provisions, ordinances must be endorsed within 60 days of the first parliamentary meeting or they automatically become inactive.

At present, three bills received from the National Assembly are pending in the House of Representatives.

The Alternative Development Finance Management Bill has also been registered in the House of Representatives, while the Intangible Cultural Heritage (Protection) Bill remains under consideration in the National Assembly.

In addition, annual reports of various constitutional bodies and reports prepared by the Rules Drafting Committee are also pending in the House of Representatives.