The House committee issued such directive on Thursday at a time when attempts are being made from several quarters to spend the aid money extended by international donor agencies through own channels instead of depositing the assistance into the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund.

“We have directed the government to take the much-needed foreign assistance only through the government fund based on one-door policy,” said the committee Chairman Prabhu Sah, “We have asked the government to draw up a plan and criteria. Petty assistance and wishful spending won’t bring positive result.”

The committee directive follows the lawmakers’ opinion that the assistance given by friendly nations and international organisations or the expenditure according to their wishes would not be transparent.

Lauding the role played by the security personnel in the rescue operation and relief distribution of earthquake victims, the lawmakers criticized the lack of coordination between the Home Ministry, Foreign Ministry and Finance Ministry. They lashed out at the government for its failure to keep record of the number of foreign rescue workers who have arrived in the wake of disaster and advised the government to immediately return the foreign rescue workers.