KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Balen Shah will not attend Thursday’s meeting of the House of Representatives, according to his secretariat.
Instead, Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle will respond to lawmakers’ questions raised during discussions on the annual Appropriation Bill for the fiscal year 2026/27.
The Prime Minister’s Office said Shah has formally delegated the responsibility to the finance minister in line with parliamentary procedures. Wagle is scheduled to answer not only questions related to his ministry but also queries concerning other ministries during the session.
The House agenda includes responses to concerns and questions raised by lawmakers during deliberations on the proposed national budget.
This is not the first time Prime Minister Balen Shah has assigned the task of responding to parliamentary questions to the finance minister.
Shah has not attended House proceedings since controversy erupted over remarks he made during a parliamentary session on May 31. Since then, opposition parties have repeatedly demanded that the prime minister appear before Parliament and clarify his statements.
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