FM Paudel asks ministries to solicit projects only worth above Rs. 30mn

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Mar. 10: Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has urged the ministries not to propose plans and programmes smaller than Rs. 30 million for the budget of the fiscal year 2025/26.

In separate discussions with the Ministry of Water Supply and the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration on the preparation of the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2025/26 on Sunday, Deputy Prime Minister Paudel urged the ministry officials not to include numerous plans and programmes and emphasised to propose large, transformative and national priority projects and programmes that are well prepared.

DPM Paudel said that the role of the provinces and local levels should be increased in the programmes that could be carried out.

He said that projects and programmes within the scope of the provinces and local levels should be handed over, even if it is by giving them a one-time seed money.

The meeting on budget formulation was attended by Minister for Drinking Water Pradeep Yadav, Minister for Federal Affairs Raj Kumar Gupta, Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Prof. Dr. Shivraj Adhikari, Finance Secretary, Revenue Secretary, secretaries at the Ministry of Water Supply and Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, and Departmental Heads.

The Ministry of Finance has already held discussions with the Ministries of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Ministry of Urban Development, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Ministry of Health and Population and Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies regarding the budget formulation for the fiscal year 2025/26.

As per the constitutional provision, the government should present the fiscal budget at the Parliament on Jestha 15, every year.