Budget shouldn’t be allocated based on access: NP Saud
Saud criticized past practices where certain areas received disproportionate funding due to lobbying and political clout.
KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress lawmaker Narayan Prakash Saud has urged the government to allocate the national budget based on actual needs rather than personal influence or political connections.
Speaking during Wednesday’s session of the House of Representatives on the discussion of the upcoming fiscal year’s policies and programs, Saud criticized past practices where certain areas received disproportionate funding due to lobbying and political clout.
He emphasized the importance of balanced national development and called for cooperation among local, provincial, and federal governments in the planning process to avoid duplication of projects.
Saud warned that lack of coordination has led to repeated and inefficient plans in the past.
“There are clear examples where some leaders and individuals have used influence to direct budgets to their areas,” Saud said. “This should not be repeated. Instead, planning should involve all levels of government and aim for equitable development across the country—from the mountains to the hills and the Terai—addressing the aspirations of people in all 165 constituencies.”
He stressed the need for the upcoming budget to be designed for effective implementation of national policies and programs.
