Two-day public holiday will be counterproductive: UML leader

By TRN Online, Kathmandu, May 18: Yogesh Bhattarai, a member of the House of Representatives (HoR) from the CPN (UML), warned of a worsening trade deficit.

Deliberating over the principles and priorities (except the tax proposal) of the appropriation bill for the Year 2022/23 at the HoR meeting today, the former Minister of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation made the observation.

Referring to the trade deficit, he posed the question of how it will become possible to consolidate the economy and the formation of the national capital.

"Trade deficit is heading to a scary situation. Some industries are closed. Opportunities of employment consistently getting down. Despite this, the government is not giving due attention to commercialisation, industrialization of agriculture and incentives to the farmers in this regard," he said.

Bhattarai, a leader of the opposition party, blamed the government for not being able to concentrate its focus on the enhancement of national capital formation.

He also asked about the purpose of the government's decision for making a two-day public holiday.

If it is for reducing the consumption of petroleum products, it will be counterproductive, he said, making such a decision without proper arrangement will not give a productive outcome.