Government preparing for new budget

Although the fate of the government is still uncertain, it has begun preparing a budget for the next fiscal year, which should be tabled on May 29.

The Finance Ministry has started holding discussions with the ministries and stakeholders about the programmes and budgets and collecting suggestions for the budget of the upcoming Fiscal Year 2021/22.

Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Paudel has already urged the line ministries to propose programmes that could be implemented.

In a meeting with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation on Thursday at Singhadurbar, Paudel said that many ministries couldn’t mobilise the allocated budget and are in the position to surrender the budget. "Therefore, include the programme and propose the budget that can be implemented even in the multi-year projects," he said. FM Paudel stated that the ministry should limit the programmes and projects within the budget ceiling provided to them. Urging them to propose programmes according to the national and development priority, he stressed on effective interministry coordination.

He said that the impacts made by the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism would be addressed by the upcoming budget and policy and programmes of the government for the next fiscal year.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal said that the pandemic had a severe impact on the tourism sector and urged to give special attention to the sector.

Economic Advisor Dr Prakash Kumar Shrestha said that the focus should be on the large and special programmes as per the spirit of federalism rather than small and scattered programmes.