KATHMANDU: Education Minister Mahabir Pun has said it would be unethical for him to allocate government funds to the National Innovation Center (NIC) while serving as a minister.
Pun, who is known for his active presence on social media, made the remark while sharing a video of a paddy-harvesting machine being tested at the Agricultural Equipment Factory operated under the NIC in Birgunj.
In his Facebook post, Pun clarified that although he is now a minister, the factory continues to run as usual and that its funding sources remain independent of the government. “Even though I am a minister, the National Innovation Center continues to operate the Agricultural Equipment Factory in Birgunj,” he wrote. “The financial sources are the money earned from selling my autobiography and the donations received from supporters.”
He added that it would be “unethical” for him to allocate a budget to the Center while holding a government position. “It would be wrong for me to set aside government funds for the factory myself. The previous government could have done so but did not. Future governments may allocate funds if they wish,” Pun stated.
Pun, who founded the National Innovation Center in 2012 to promote homegrown research and technological innovation, was appointed Education Minister of the interim government.
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