KATHMANDU: In Sunday’s meeting of the House of Representatives, lawmakers from various parties raised concerns about economic management, urging the government to prioritize cost-cutting, boost domestic employment, and ensure efficient resource utilization in its upcoming budget and policies.
Nepali Congress MP Ramhari Khatiwada suggested merging the staff of the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice President to reduce administrative expenses.
“With public debt exceeding Rs 26 billion and revenue unable to meet general expenditure, the government must consider such measures seriously,” he said.
Khatiwada, who chairs the State Management and Good Governance Committee, also called on the government to give Parliament substantive legislative business and consider constitutional amendments raised in parliamentary committees.
Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) MP Deepak Bahadur Singh demanded increased salaries and benefits for security forces, arguing that improved compensation would reduce the need for Nepalis to seek employment abroad.
Aam Janata Party MP Prabhu Sah emphasized the importance of channeling remittances through legal routes and called for income-generating use of protected forests and jungles.
“We spend Rs 30 billion on forest protection—what do we get in return?” he questioned.
Meanwhile, CPN (Unified Socialist) MP Sher Bahadur Kunwar urged the government to prioritize employment, education, accessible healthcare, agriculture, and tourism in the upcoming fiscal budget, saying it was essential to address growing public frustration.
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