Both Houses endorse policies, programmes

By Pallav Bhusal,Kathmandu, May 15: The National Assembly (NA) and the House of Representatives (HoR) on Thursday endorsed the government’s policies and programmes for the fiscal year 2026/27. Both the Houses approved it after Finance Minister Dr. Swarnim Wagle furnished the replies to queries and questions raised by lawmakers during the meetings.

The policies and programmes, presented by Ramchandra Paudel during a joint sitting of the Federal Parliament on May 12, was approved by a majority voice vote in the National Assembly and the HoR. NA Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal  and Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal in House of Representatives announced the decision after amendment proposals were addressed and procedural formalities completed.

Replying on behalf of Prime Minister Balendra Shah, Finance Minister Dr. Wagle said the government had taken lawmakers’ concerns, suggestions and observations seriously and would incorporate them into the upcoming budget as far as possible within available resources.

He said the present government had received a near two-thirds mandate in the House of Representatives for its commitment to corruption control and good governance in the elections in March. He said the government remained committed to building a just and prosperous Nepal based on social equality, transparency and accountable governance.

The Finance Minister stated that, for the first time in Nepal’s political history, commitments made by political parties during elections had been embraced as a broader national commitment. He said the government intended to work collectively with all political forces to achieve measurable development goals and long-term national priorities.

During his response, Dr. Wagle addressed lawmakers concerns related to border disputes, economic diplomacy, foreign employment management, trade union reforms, climate change, cooperative sector problems, infrastructure development, entrepreneurship, quality education and social justice.

He said the government had already begun implementing a 100-point governance reform agenda from the first day of its formation to boost public confidence in state institutions. Measures related to improving service delivery, transparency, grievance management and corruption control would be intensified, he added.

The minister said the government would implement the policies and programmes in a time-bound manner through concrete action plans. He added that the budget’s principles and priorities would remain aligned with the policy document, the Sixteenth Periodic Plan and the medium-term expenditure framework.

Highlighting economic reform plans, he said the government would pursue legal and policy reforms to create a more private sector-friendly environment. He added that alternative financing mechanisms would be explored to expand the economy and support infrastructure development.

Priority to pride projects 

According to him, the government would continue mobilising foreign grants and loans for large and incomplete national pride projects while also improving budget efficiency and revenue collection mechanisms. He said a performance-based budgeting system and third-party evaluation of government spending would be introduced to ensure cost-effectiveness and better returns on public investment.

On employment, the finance minister announced plans for a new domestic employment policy and an employment decade campaign aimed at creating jobs within the country. Foreign employment, he said, should become an option rather than a compulsion. He added that the government would introduce targeted programmes to utilise the skills, knowledge and capital gained by Nepalis working abroad.

Dr. Wagle also pledged greater support for the agriculture sector through commercialisation, mechanisation and market-oriented reforms. Farmers would be provided with fertilisers, seeds and technical services, while minimum support prices for major crops would be fixed before plantation seasons, he said. Timely payments to sugarcane and dairy farmers would also be ensured.

In the education sector, he said investment would be increased to make education employment-oriented, practical and accessible to all. The government would continue free secondary education, scholarships and residential support programmes.

The Finance Minister further announced that a Prime Minister Delivery Unit would be established to monitor infrastructure projects and public service delivery, while citizen complaints would be addressed through more responsive governance mechanisms.

Minister Dr. Wagle said the suggestions put forward by lawmakers during the debate would serve as important guidance for the government in implementing the policies and programmes in the coming fiscal year.

Similarly, Finance Minister Dr. Wagle on Thursday presented the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill, excluding tax proposals for the fiscal year 2026/27 in the federal parliament, outlining the government’s roadmap for governance reforms, economic restructuring, infrastructure expansion and social development ahead of the annual budget. The proposal, except for tax-related matters, will now be discussed in the House before being endorsed by a majority.

The proposal will be discussed on May 18, 19 and 20.

Presenting the proposal in the Lower House, Minister Dr. Wagle said the government aimed to establish a governance system centred on accountability, institutional stability and results-oriented public administration. He said the upcoming budget would prioritise good governance, employment-oriented economic growth, quality public services and equal opportunities while focusing on restoring public trust in state institutions.

The minister announced that the government would pursue extensive administrative and legal reforms through digital governance. He said public services would be made faster and more reliable through integrated digital systems, while efforts would be intensified to control corruption, revenue leakage, organised crime and misuse of public resources. He also pledged to simplify administrative procedures and introduce a single-window, time-bound and digital service delivery system.

Focus on production-oriented economy 

On the economy, Dr. Wagle said the government would seek to transform the country from a consumption-based economy into an investment and production-oriented one. He stated that agriculture, tourism, information technology, energy and service exports would be promoted as key drivers of growth. Measures would also be introduced to improve the investment climate, remove barriers faced by the private sector and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship.

The proposal also places strong emphasis on infrastructure and connectivity. The government plans to prioritise the completion of long-delayed national pride projects, expand strategic roads, promote energy production and strengthen digital infrastructure, including data centres, cloud services and cybersecurity systems. Minister Dr. Wagle said infrastructure development would be pursued in a coordinated manner to strengthen economic integration and regional connectivity.

In the social sector, the government pledged to reform education and healthcare systems by linking education with employment and expanding access to quality health services. He said investment in technical and vocational education would increase, while health insurance and social protection programmes would be restructured to make them more citizen-friendly. He also announced plans to strengthen social security, address regional inequality and support marginalised communities.

He further said Nepal would strengthen balanced foreign relations and use economic diplomacy, tourism, technology and the Nepali diaspora to expand international partnerships and attract investment. He expressed confidence that discussions in parliament would help refine the upcoming budget and guide the government’s policy direction for the next fiscal year.