FM Sharma approves Rs. 5b to procure vaccines

Kathmandu, July 14

Newly appointed Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said on Wednesday that the government had given priority to the control and treatment of COVID-19 pandemic, and directed the civil servants to work accordingly.

After assuming his office at the Ministry of Finance, Singha Durbar, today, he approved Rs. 5 billion for the Ministry of Health and Population to procure vaccines against COVID-19.

He also approved Rs. 961 million budget to buy ICU, HDU and ventilators and Rs. 524 million to mobilise to the provincial and local hospitals. The budgets on these two headings were consented by the previous government.

Likewise, Minister Sharma sanctioned Rs. 564 million for various COVID-19 liabilities and risk allowance payment.

He pointed to the need for formulating appropriate and pragmatic policies to address the adverse situation created by the pandemic and mobilising resources to fight the challenges posed by it.

He maintained that the Ministry of Finance should be active in formulating appropriate policies to lead the country on the path of economic development and achieve economic prosperity. “We must be focused to create policy framework and implementing them to build self-reliant economy and raise the living standards of marginalised and deprived communities at the earliest,” he said.

Minister Sharma directed the employees of the ministry and departments under it to begin a process to create economic policy to promote international trade and industrial development so that the country could reap the benefit of the geo-political status of the country and large markets at the both side of it.

He also asked the civil authorities to create a strong bond and cooperation with the private sector and promote good governance as well as strengthen institutions to achieve the national goal of prosperity and self-reliant economy.

Finance Secretary Shishir Kumar Dhungana had welcomed the new Finance Minister. He said that the Finance Minister would have a universal cooperation from the civil servants. Governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank wished for successful tenure of Minister Sharma and pledged full support from the central bank.

Heads of the various agencies under the MoF and its staff were present on the occasion.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 15 July 2021.