KATHMANDU: The House of Representatives has unanimously approved the proposal to consider the Appropriation Bill, 2026.
The proposal, tabled by Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle in Friday’s parliamentary session, was endorsed without any opposition, allowing the bill to move forward for detailed deliberation.
Earlier during the discussion on the bill, opposition lawmakers raised concerns over an imbalance between recurrent and capital expenditures in the budget. They also argued that the government has not adequately addressed long-term debt reduction strategies.
Lawmakers from the ruling coalition, however, defended the budget, stating that it is effective and designed to drive broader economic transformation.
Responding to lawmakers’ queries, Finance Minister Wagle said the budget prioritizes the expansion of the middle class while also ensuring support for poor and vulnerable groups. He added that all sectors have been taken into consideration in the allocation process.
Urging lawmakers to base their criticism on the actual bill rather than hearsay, the finance minister said the government has set ambitious revenue targets instead of relying heavily on borrowing.
He further stated that ongoing reforms aimed at formalizing the economy may attract criticism in the short term but will ultimately serve the national interest.
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