Unprecedented socioeconomic measures imperative to reduce COVID-19 effects: Finance Minister Dr Khatiwada

Kathmandu - Finance Minister Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada has said the adverse situation emerged with the COVID-19 at present is the biggest humanitarian and financial crisis of the twenty-first century. "The crises in the past were either human or financial and occurred over times. But the present crisis is both the human and economic together," he observed, adding that it has wider area with bigger intensity. So, huge socioeconomic measure has been essential to cope up with this adversity, he stressed.

Minister Khatiwada was putting forth such views at a discussion government held on 'coronavirus effects on Nepali economy and livelihood' with the high level officials from multi-sectoral development bank, International Monetary Fund, International Financial Corporation and UN agencies in Kathmandu on Friday. It was the video conference Finance Minister Dr Khatiwada held. The issues as Nepali economy, health sector, daily livelihood, and government's efforts made so far to prevent and control the spread of coronavirus and future strategy featured significantly during the video conference.