Excessive import of agro products will be controlled: Finance Minister

KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has said the government has prioritised the control of excessive import of agricultural items which can be produced within the country. It will help strengthen the national economy, he argued. He admitted that national economy witnessed stress due to Covid-19 pandemic, unseasonal rains, and Russia-Ukraine conflict. However, the effects should be minimised gradually, Sharma added. Minister Sharma said this in response to the lawmakers' query on the priority and principles of forthcoming appropriation bill. Finance Minister also urged everyone not to politicise the economic problem. He presented the data from Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) that the economic growth rate was near 6% amid various challenges. If the situation is normal, the country will have speedy economic growth. Although it was expected to limit the inflation to 6.5%, it increased slightly, he said, adding that country imported the things amounting to Rs 1,600 billion while exports were worth Rs 173 billion. The foreign exchange reserve has also decreased slightly, he added. According to Minister Sharma, the government at present is implementing the budget prepared by the previous government. He informed that the plan to construct 50-km-long road at the cost of Rs 2.4 million was terminated for now. However, the road construction which had passed the contract procedure has been continued unabated. The Finance Minister said the budget priorities and principles were set as per national need. The aspiration of downtrodden people from across the country will be addressed in the budget priorities. By RSS READ ALSO:

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