KATHMANDU, Sept 22: Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle’s secretariat has rejected reports linking him to an alleged agreement to withdraw the value added tax on electricity tariffs.
In a statement, Wagle’s chief personal secretary, Nabin Dhungana, said the finance minister had held no meeting or discussion on the matter on Sunday evening or at any time last week, contrary to media reports.
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Dhungana said agencies under the Finance Ministry were discussing and studying ways to provide relief to consumers and simplify the issue, in line with Wagle’s statements in the House of Representatives and the National Assembly.
The secretariat said reports claiming that an “agreement in principle” had been reached to restore the VAT exemption on electricity tariffs were not based on facts.
Dhungana urged the public to distinguish between the finance minister’s stated position and the discussions and studies currently being conducted by agencies under the ministry.
