July 29: A total of 182 local units have failed to present their budget for the current fiscal year to the village council.

As per the constitutional provision, the local levels should present their budget for the new fiscal year to the village council by June 25. However, 182 local levels have not been able to present their budget yet.

According to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, a total of 571 local levels have so far presented their budget to the village council for the fiscal year 2077/78 within the deadline set by the constitution.

Province 2 in this regard has the highest number of local levels failing to present the budget on time.

According to the ministry, 74 local levels of Province 2 are yet to introduce the budget for the current fiscal year. Similarly, 27 local level governments from Province 1 and 25 from Far Western Province have also failed to launch their budget for the current fiscal year.

"The Ministry of Federal Affairs has directed the local levels to present their budget. Some of the local levels are not complying with the orders. The Finance Ministry will stop sending grants to such local levels," informed an official at the finance ministry.