Kathmandu, June 9: Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya has expressed the confidence that the target of the revenue and the foreign assistance mentioned in the budget for the fiscal year 2057/58 will be met.

Responding to issues raised and clarification sought by the MPs at the second meeting of the House of Representatives yesterday, Minister Acharya informed that the target on the revenue and foreign assistance made in the budget has been set not at random but on the basis of the commitment of the foreign agencies and the fund of the projects remaining in the current fiscal year.

In response to the allegations made against him that the budget has not reflected the views put forward at the meeting of the National Planning Commission and the finance committee, the Finance Minister said although all the wishes of the MPs have not been solved in the budget, their urge to take into consideration in the budget the agro and social sector has been fully reflected and that their other ideas will be prioritised in the next budget.

The budget has been appropriated concentrating on the increase of the employees salaries and law and order situation, he said, adding that ideas of all the sections cannot be reflected in the budget despite the willingness to do so.

The amount for the constituencies of the MPs has been increased to Rs 1,000,000 from 500,000, he said, adding that this budget appropriation is a result of efforts to develop a system in legal and policy level and not to increase the role of the MP by undermining the role of local bodies. Acharya said the government efforts are underway to increase the development budget by unaffecting the general expenditure, adding that the pressure of the general expenditure can remain unchanged next year due to new provisions made in the management aspect in the present budget.

Regarding the allegations that the appropriation had not been made in a balanced manner, he said that the budget for some regions had been more as some development projects were underway and other development programmes had also been included.

Commenting on the criticism that the pay scale of the civil servants were unequal, he said this pay scale is brought with a view to building a system with the suggestion of the experts and added that a heavy pressure could take place on expenditures if a slight change is made.

The minister said as wished by the prime minister, HMG is committed to work in accordance with the sentiments of the opposition by remaining within the parametres of law.