The National Planning Commission has recommended that the government ensure the upcoming budget for Fiscal Year 2025/26 (2082/83) focuses on projects that can be realistically implemented within the year. In its report submitted to the Ministry of Finance, the Commission has suggested allocating funds only to implementable and priority-based projects, while avoiding the creation of new institutional structures and instead maximizing the use of existing ones.

The report calls for reprioritizing programs based on implementation status, duration, liabilities, and spending capacity. It emphasizes aligning the budget with the Sixteenth Plan and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and stresses the need to support projects that enhance productivity, employment, and sustainability. The Commission also advised merging or cancelling overlapping programs and ensuring that only projects listed in the National Project Bank receive funding.

The report was formally submitted on Sunday by the Commission’s Vice Chairman, Prof. Dr. Shivaraj Adhikari, to Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel at a program organized at the Ministry of Finance. As mandated by the Economic Procedures and Fiscal Responsibility Act, the National Planning Commission submits this report annually following discussions with relevant ministries and agencies.

At the event, Finance Minister Poudel said recent reforms in policy and law have helped steer economic indicators in a positive direction. He stated that the upcoming budget would aim to further strengthen the economy.

Vice Chairman Adhikari said the report was prepared through extensive consultations and is intended to guide the budget process toward practical, results-oriented spending. He noted the importance of addressing ongoing obligations, particularly in multi-year projects, and recommended prioritizing development programs.

The Commission also highlighted the challenge of managing regular and ongoing expenses that still rely heavily on foreign aid. It has urged the government to distribute development projects in line with the criteria for federal, provincial, and local levels to ensure balanced development. – With inputs from RSS