Appoint governor soon: NC Spokesperson Mahat

Kathmandu, April 24: Spokesperson of the Nepali Congress, Prakash Sharan Mahat, has said the appointment of governor at Nepal Rastra Bank must not be delayed.     

During a dialogue organized by the BP Chintan Pratisthan and the Parliamentary Study and Development Foundation on 'Priorities of Upcoming Budget' here Thursday, Spokesperson Mahat viewed professional person irrespective of political faith must be appointed as the NRB governor.     

"It is worrying to delay governor appointment," he said, adding the person who keeps in centre the national economy must be chosen for the position. Also the former finance minister, Mahat viewed, "Budget must be based on need and priorities along with guarantee of resources. A balanced and disciplined budget is need of hour." He suggested the provisions to curtail administrative spending and increase the capital spending.     

The former finance minister claimed that it was a wrong trend to bring a big budget. The areas to focus by the budget are social security, education, tourism, information technology and production, according to him.     

NC leader Dip Kumar Upadhyay said the budget must concentrate on how the national economy could be improved.     

Former Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Prof Dr Govind Raj Pokhrel, said the government's attention is imperative in the sectors ensuring investment return and infrastructure development. "Capacity development and investment in mega hydro project are other areas to dwell on," he added, suggesting curtailment of extravagant spending.     

Policy and structural reforms are suggested by former Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Dr Pushpa Raj Kandel.     

Another former Vice Chairman of the Commission, Dipendra Bahadur Chhetri, viewed a balanced and investable budget is necessary.(RSS)