Kathmandu, 20 June 2022
Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has said that agriculture sector has been given priority to become self-reliant in indigenous products. At a meeting of the Industry Committee under the House of Representatives held at Singha Durbar on Monday, Finance Minister Sharma said that the agriculture sector has been given priority to become self-reliant in indigenous goods as importing various commodities would increase trade deficit and increase prices. He said that the government is also studying to become self-sufficient in other paddy. Finance Minister Sharma also said that the tax range has not been manipulated unnecessarily in the budget of the coming fiscal year. He also said that tax exemption has been given on imported sanitary pads as the production of indigenous sanitary pads could not meet the demand. He said that the government has no plan to destroy the indigenous industries, adding that the industry friendly budget has come. At the meeting, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Dilendra Prasad Badu said that the government would provide necessary facilitation for smooth operation of the industry. He opined that private sector assistance would be sought for the operation of the closed industries. Similarly, Minister Badu said that the rise in prices of petroleum products was a compelling situation. He clarified that the tax on petroleum products has been reduced by Rs 10 and cannot be reduced more than that. He said that there was still a loss as the selling price was lower than the purchase price of petroleum products. He said that the price of gas was not allowed to be increased so as not to hurt the people further.