Make Revenue Administration Smooth: Former Finance Minister Yubraj Khatiwada

Former finance minister Dr Yubraj Khatiwada has stressed that government needs to ensure smooth revenue administration.

Addressing a programme organized by the Policy Research and Development Institute in the federal capital on Sunday, former finance minister Dr Khatiwada worried about the low revenue collection till date in the current fiscal year. Revenue administration must be smooth because country is likely to secure only Rs 1,100 to 1,150 billion in revenue in total for this fiscal year.

He commented that the common minimum programme the ruling alliance brought would help foster entrepreneurship, as it had incorporated the issues of 'Make in Nepal'. Dr Khatiwada questioned why the programme of making all Nepalis literate was not enforced though this agenda was raised for four years.

The former finance minister also made aware the political leaderships and government that food and beverages witnessed more than 50 percent price hike within short span of time.

On the occasion, Member of the National Planning Commission, Sushil Gyawali, viewed for the implementation of the common minimum programme, the country needs Rs 6,600 billion budget for five years.  He advocated for the establishment of infrastructure fund to intensify the development activities. 

The common minimum programmes could not be implemented effectively unless the Public Procurement Act was amended by holding discussion with stakeholders, Gyawali argued.

Economist Dr Dilliraj Khanal said institutional and policy level accountability would help solve problems.

Moreover, Prof Jivan Bhattarai expressed concern why the regional international airports- of Bhairahawa and Pokhara, built with billion of rupees, were not come into smooth operation. It must be reviewed, he added

Senior Vice Chairman of Nepal Federation of Small and Cottage Industries, Surya Bahadur Kandel, shared that the farmers in Chitwan were forced to throw away vegetables in Chitwan streets as they did not recover the production cost.  They failed to sell tomato even at Rs 6 per kg, he added.