The National Assembly will resume its session on June 1 to discuss and pass the annual budget bill.
The third session of third Parliament was discontinued when the first COVID-19 case was detected in the country on March 6.
However, with the current financial year coming to an end in June, Speaker Wangchuk Namgyel said that they have to convene this session, as the budget for the next financial year (2020-2021) has to be passed by the end of June.
“There is also supplementary budget, which the government requires approval from the Parliament and we need to discuss it. It is very important we pass this by the month of June,” said the Speaker.
He added that the finance minister will present the annual budget in the National Assembly along with a report on the budget of the previous fiscal year.
The National Assembly has decided to deliberate on other agendas in the next session.
The National Council will hold its extraordinary session from June 9 to deliberate and review the annual budget bill. The budget bill will be presented to the Upper House the following day.
“The National Assembly will take around 10 days to adopt the bill, after which the finance minister will present the annual budget in the National Council,” said the National Council Chairperson, Tashi Dorji.
The Council will review the bill within five days after which it will be returned to the National Assembly for final adoption.
The closing ceremony will be held on June 17.
Samten Dolkar
