KATHMANDU: Finance Minister Barshaman Pun is scheduled to present the federal budget for the upcoming fiscal year during a joint session of Parliament at 1 pm on Tuesday.

This announcement follows Finance Minister Pun's presentation of the Economic Survey for Fiscal Year 2023/24 on Sunday.

During the unveiling of the economic survey, Minister Pun highlighted the gradual improvement in the country's economic and social indicators. Despite a contraction in the productive sector and reduced production in the industry and construction sectors, Minister Pun expressed optimism about a 3.9 percent expansion in the economy, driven by growth in the agriculture and service sectors. Additionally, he noted that the economic growth rates of Gandaki, Bagmati, and Lumbini provinces are expected to surpass the national average.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said he is confident of a political development to put an end to the ongoing parliamentary obstructions by Monday.    

“Although today's political meeting aiming to end the parliament impasse failed to meet the objective, there will be consensus and an agreement in this regard by tomorrow,” the state-owned RSS quoted the prime minister as saying.

He said this during his replies to the concerns over the government’s policies and programmes for the fiscal year 2081-82 (2024-25) raised in a meeting of the House of Representatives on Sunday.

It may be noted that the NC continues to obstruct the parliamentary proceedings demanding the formation of a parliamentary committee to investigate the alleged involvement of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Rabi Lamichhane, in the misappropriation of the cooperative funds.