POKHARA: The Gandaki Province Government is set to announce its policies and programs for the upcoming fiscal year 2025/26 today.
Province Chief Dilli Raj Bhatta is scheduled to present the document to the Provincial Assembly at 1:00 pm, according to the Provincial Assembly Secretariat.
This marks the eighth policy and program presentation for Gandaki Province. As per the constitution, the Province Chief presents the policy and program to the Provincial Assembly based on the Provincial Government’s recommendations.
The document will outline the Gandaki Provincial Government’s priorities, policy directives, development plans, and programs for the next fiscal year.
The Provincial Assembly has already discussed the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill. Provinces are mandated to present their budgets by Jestha 1 (June 15).
There’s been growing criticism of the provincial government, with some arguing that a lack of coordination between past policies, programs, and budgets has hampered expected development.
With Nepali Congress leader Surendra Raj Pandey at the helm as Chief Minister, the government is expected to introduce special programs in sectors like agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, education, health, and employment.
These initiatives are anticipated to align with the current fiscal year’s progress and the needs of citizens.
Last year, Chief Minister Pandey’s government had to rush its policy and program and budget after he was reinstated by a Supreme Court order on May 28. In contrast, the current government had ample time for preparation.
The CPN-UML joined the provincial government last September, forming a coalition. This coalition government has consistently stated its commitment to prioritizing inclusive and sustainable development.
Despite Gandaki Province’s economic growth rate performing better compared to the federal government and other provinces, there are concerns that the upcoming budget size might shrink. This is primarily due to anticipated cuts in grants from the federal government and the province’s struggles in collecting internal revenue.
After the policy and program are presented to the Provincial Assembly, they’ll be discussed and then passed. Following this, the process for drafting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year will move forward, with the budget expected by Jestha 1.
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