Budget Calendar
May 22: House session begins
May 23: Pre-budget discussions
May 25: Policy and Programs to be unveiled
May 29: Annual budget presentation
KATHMANDU, May 22: President Bidya Bhandari is set to unveil the policies and programs of the government for the upcoming fiscal year, in parliament Thursday.
A meeting of the cabinet on Sunday endorsed the policies and programs for the next fiscal year.
These comprise continuity of most of the existing plans of the government rather than any new announcements, said one minister.
Parliament's secretariat has started preparations for the unveiling of the policy and programs, and also proposed Tuesday for pre-budget discussions. According to a mandatory provision of the new constitution, the government must present budget for the new fiscal year in parliament on Jestha 15 (May 29).
“Parliament has proposed May 25 as the date for unveiling the policies and programs of the government and has also expedited the necessary preparations,” said Speaker Onsari Gharti's press advisor Bashudev Sharma.
According to the working calendar prepared by the parliament secretariat, Speaker Ghati will inform the House on Monday about the pre-budget discussion schedule for Tuesday. Brief pre-budget discussions will conclude the same day. During the discussions, lawmakers will put forth their suggestions on priorities for the budget.
The House will then pause for a day before President Bhandari unveils the government's policy and programs amid a special function.
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Parliament has planned holding discussions in the House for two days on May 26 and 27. The House is expected to endorse the policy and programs on May 27 after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal answers lawmakers' queries over the policies and programs.
There was confusion over whether to hold pre-budget discussions since parliament regulations mandate that pre-budget discussions must be concluded at least 15 days before discussions on the appropriations bill. Finding a way out of the confusion, the parliament secretariat has planned deliberations on the bill only after 15 days of the budget presentation.
Speaker Gharti had consulted the chief whips of major political parties about the budget schedule, Sunday morning. “We suggested the ruling parties withdraw the impeachment motion filed against Chief Justice Sushila Karki before the budget and also urged it not to introduce issues concerning constitution amendment in House business,” said CPN-UML Chief Whip Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal after the meeting.
Lawmakers from the ruling NC and CPN (Maoist Center) had registered an impeachment motion against Karki in parliament on May 1. But the motion has been subjected to a stay order from the Supreme Court.
