Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Parliamentary Party leader Gyan Bahadur Shahi has accused the government of introducing a budget that favors large businesses rather than addressing the needs of ordinary citizens and low-income groups.

Speaking during discussions on the national budget presented by Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle in the House of Representatives on Thursday, Shahi expressed strong dissatisfaction with several provisions included in the budget.

He argued that the budget creates an environment that encourages capital outflow from Nepal and questioned whether such policies serve the country's long-term economic interests. According to him, policies should focus on attracting investment into Nepal rather than facilitating the movement of domestic capital abroad.

Shahi also criticized the government's decision to impose taxes related to healthcare expenses, claiming that the burden would ultimately fall on patients rather than hospitals. He described the policy as unfair to citizens already struggling with health-related challenges.

Furthermore, he alleged that the budget provides advantages to imported medicines while failing to adequately protect domestic pharmaceutical manufacturers. He warned that such measures could negatively impact Nepal’s pharmaceutical industry, which provides employment to thousands of people.

According to Shahi, dozens of domestic pharmaceutical companies could face serious difficulties if the current policies remain unchanged. He stressed that protecting local industries and generating employment should be key priorities of the government.

The RPP leader concluded by stating that the budget appears to benefit a limited group of large businesses while overlooking the broader interests of ordinary citizens, domestic industries, and the national economy.