KATHMANDU: Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Oli has presented a seven-point “clarification” regarding the ordinances issued in the absence of the Parliament.
Amid criticisms that the government is attempting to bypass Parliament and rule through ordinances, Prime Minister Oli defended the ordinances during the parliamentary session itself.
Following a recommendation from the government, President Ram Chandra Poudel adjourned the budget session of Parliament on Bhadra 13.
During this period, the Nepali Congress-UML coalition government issued several ordinances.
PM Oli had previously stated that these ordinances would be tabled in Parliament on the first day of the winter session.
Speaking in the Parliament on the first day of the winter session, PM Oli explained that 29 different acts had been amended through the ordinances.
PM Oli listed the areas affected by the amendments: 11 acts aimed at improving the economic and business environment and boosting investment, 12 related to promoting good governance and public services, as well as laws pertaining to land, forests, the Economic Procedures and Fiscal Responsibility Act, the Privatization Act, and the Cooperatives Act.
“With these amendments implemented through ordinances, I can confidently say, borrowing a phrase from the media, that ‘the country has embarked on unprecedented reforms’ to build good governance and improve the business environment,” said Prime Minister Oli.
“This will prevent the delay of service delivery by eliminating unnecessary bureaucracy. A legal provision now mandates that all work must be completed within 7 days unless otherwise specified by law.”
PM Oli also mentioned that the ordinances have created an environment for Nepali information technology companies to compete on the international stage. However, the government has yet to finalize procedures on how these companies will establish their presence abroad.
“Now, an environment has been created for Nepali companies to open subsidiaries and branches internationally, conduct business, and repatriate their earnings back to Nepal,” PM Oli added.
In addressing conflicting laws regarding consumer protection, PM Oli stated that irrelevant laws have been repealed.
He noted that unnecessary burdens on entrepreneurs have been removed by allowing prices of goods to be determined through competition, while consumer protection has been further strengthened.
PM Oli also defended the ordinance provisions that stipulate government officials must decide on an industry registration application within 15 days; otherwise, the industry will automatically be recognized for operation.
He also claimed that the cumbersome process, where entrepreneurs faced unnecessary hurdles when closing a bankrupt company, has been permanently ended.
The Prime Minister further explained that the Cooperative Act had been amended to establish a National Cooperative Regulatory Authority to protect the savings of individuals, as recommended by a parliamentary committee investigating cooperative fraud.
“The list of achievements from these ordinances is extensive. The features of these ordinances have sparked wide social debate, and you, honorable MPs, are well aware of this,” PM Oli stated.
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