New budget to focus on capacity enhancement of government agencies

10 July, Kathmandu: Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat said that moving ahead for economic development in peaceful environment by concluding the constitution writing process was the government’s strategy. Inaugurating the 60th annual general assembly of Nepal Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, Minister Mahat shared that the government would mark this year as the year for economic reforms adding that the agenda of economic development was country’s priority. The government would focus on enhancing capacity of government agencies to administer development projects, he said. “We are giving top priority for policy measures for faster implementation of development projects,” Dr Mahat shared. Dr Mahat has said that the finance ministry has difficulties to bring the budget within the ceiling set by the National Planning Commission. The NPC has asked the government to bring the new budget of not more than Rs 596 billion. The Finance Minister was of the view that salary hike of the government employees, lawmakers’ demand for Rs 50 million for constituency development fund and other titles could slightly increase size of the budget. The government is likely to unveil the budget for the next fiscal year on July 13, while the economic survey is being unveiled today.