Kathmandu, March 30 : The government has unveiled a series of relief measures targeting the poor, vulnerable people as well as the businesses hit by the global Covid-19 pandemic and the resultant national lockdown.
Such measures, announced by Minister for Finance Yuba Raj Khatiwada on Sunday (March 29), include deferment of tax filing, relaxation on statutory compliance, supply of free or subsidized foods, waiver on tariffs of internet, electricity and other supplies etc.
Minister Khatiwada said the economically backward families and informal sector workers bedeviled by the national lockdown can access relief from the local units
According to him, the the deadline for the tax filing will be extended by one and a half months. The value added tax (VAT) and income tax filing deadline has been extended till May 7. Similarly, the deadline to submit the report and other details by companies to Office of Company Registrar has been extended until mid May.
The government has also decided to provide 10 percent discount on all food items like rice, sugar, flour and oil sold by Salt Trading Corporation Ltd and Foot and Trading Management Company Ltd. Similarly, the Nepal Telecom will offer 25 percent discount on internet and data package by Nepal Telecom during the lockdown period,
Minister Khatiwada also said that the government will make an arrangement to provide salary or wage to even those employees whose companies have been shut down in Chaitra (mid March to mid April).
In order to arrange financial resources for implementing these measures, , the government plans to receive receive Rs 3.48 billion of concessional loans from the World Bank, Rs 13.9 billion interest-free financing support from the International Monetary Fund as well as seek financing support from other development partners including the Asian Development Bank.
