Will share economy's real picture to citizens, Finance Minister says

Minister for Finance Janardan Sharma has said that his announcement to release a whitepaper on the country's economy to share the real status of the economy to the citizens has created unnecessary havoc among a section of the people.

At an interaction with the former vice-chairpersons of the National Planning Commission and economists at the Ministry on Monday, Minister Sharma said that he did not raise the issue of white paper to trade barbs on anyone and present the minister's arrogance. "I want to break the conventional fashion of accusing others while releasing the whitepaper. This is not a step to exhibit arrogance about high-sounding commitments. I just want to show the real picture (that is) when I assume my responsibility," Minister Sharma said.

During the interaction with the economists, Minister Sharma said that he was planning to move ahead by making a schedule to increase capital expenditure as per the recommendations given by the economists.  He also laid emphasis on charting out modality on people's mobilization in the tasks of development construction.

The traditional development pattern will be changed with people's participation and community-based development works, he expressed the confidence adding that development won't take its share until people accept its ownership. "So, I have realized the necessity of modality for people's mobilization," the Finance Minister added.

Similarly, he expressed his firm commitment not to compromise on the issue of transparency. 

On the occasion, economist Dr. Bishwambar Pyakurel suggested that the government should work to reduce the economic costs of the development projects. Pyakurel said that structural barriers were to blame for the poor status of capital expenditure and stalled development works.

He also added that the private sector despite getting facilities and subsidies from the state was not contributing as expected in employment generation and economic growth.

Likewise, National Assembly member Dr. Khimlal Devkota said that the federal government has paid very little attention to the implementation of federalism.

Similarly, Dr. Hari Roka asked the finance minister to announce a relief package to the people affected by COVID-19. He was of the view that the incumbent government should take bold steps to dismantle the syndicate of a handful of people existing in the import sector.

Economic Dr. Ramesh Poudel, Dr Janak Shah, Chandra Mani Adhikari, Govinda Nepal, Keshav Acharya, Ram Kumar Phuyal, Chandra Kanta Poudel, Kusum Shakya, Min Bahadur Shrestha and others urged the government to bring minimum common programmes of the government by incorporating the aspirations of coalition partners.