Kathmandu, March 21: Finance Minister Barshaman Pun has assured the public that a balanced budget will be introduced for the upcoming fiscal year.

Speaking at a meeting of the Finance Committee under the House of Representatives at Singha Durbar today, Minister Pun emphasized the importance of maintaining balance within available resources and limits.

He outlined key priorities for the budget, including the modernization of agriculture, marketization, and transparent customs management.

Minister Pun stressed that the forthcoming budget will incorporate activities carried out by the previous government, with a focus on national pride projects.

Additionally, sectors such as agriculture, industry, tourism, education, health, and information technology will receive attention to align with the constitutional vision of building a socialist-oriented national economy.

Highlighting Nepal’s potential in the IT sector, Minister Pun mentioned plans to prioritize software exports, aiming to reach Rs 500 billion in the next five years.

He pledged to address concerns raised by lawmakers regarding agriculture, energy, tourism, education, and health in the budget.

Committee President Santosh Chalise urged the government to prioritize production and export-based sectors, electricity, tourism promotion, and agricultural modernization.

The committee members emphasized the need for a need-based budget allocation, focusing on accelerating national priority projects and reviving stalled initiatives.

Former Finance Minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki stressed the importance of aligning the budget with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and completing unfinished projects for balanced development.

Lawmaker Surya Thapa called for prompt project completion through economic strengthening, while other lawmakers emphasized the importance of a practical budget focused on import substitution, revenue generation, and adequate allocations for agriculture, education, and health sectors.