More rumours on tax than fact: Minister Pokharel

Kathmandu, Sept. 5

Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Ishwar Pokharel said on Thursday that the issue of tax was raised unnecessarily.

“There have been some adjustments in tax rates and reform in tax system, but the issue was raised in a way as if the government wanted to suck in the income of people,” he said while addressing the third Responsible Business Summit organised by National Business Initiative (NBI).

He said that there were more rumours about tax than the facts and useful information.

Minister Pokharel said that the government had given priority to the private sector, its development and creation of investment environment.

“The private sector has two-third investment in the country’s development. Without the support of the business community, the government cannot fulfill the national motion ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali,” he said.

However, he urged the businessmen to adhere to the good business practices and discourage syndicate and cartel.

Centenary man Satya Mohan Joshi urged the government to find out the reasons behind the delay in completing the construction of the large infrastructure projects.

“Melamchi has not completed even in two decades. Is it because of technology, resources or expertise? The government must find the answer and the persons responsible for the delay must be punished,” he said.

He recommended preserving the cultural and economic traditions and monuments of the past and using them for economic benefits.

Vice Chancellor of the Kathmandu University Professor Ram Kantha Makaju Shrestha suggested fostering collaboration between the academia and the private sector.

Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Nepal Valerie Julliand said that as Nepal wanted to achieve a very ambitious objective to be a middle income country 2020, it had to progress in multiple sectors.

“Private sector is the main creator of employment in the country. Without its participation the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) cannot be achieved,” she said.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli sent a message to the summit from Singapore. In the message, he said that private sector is a partner in achieving the national aspiration of development.

The two-day summit will have multiple plenary sessions on employment, human trafficking, climate action, responsible tourism, corporate governance, social security, entrepreneurship and innovation, corporate social responsibility, access to market and finance, and customer safety.

Published in The Rising Nepal on 6 September 2019.