KATHMANDU: Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation Mahabir Pun has urged provincial and local governments to allocate at least one per cent of their capital expenditure to science, research and innovation.
Taking to social media, Minister Pun said that a provision already exists for allocating one per cent of the capital budget for grants in science and innovation-related sectors, and called on subnational governments to prioritize this in upcoming budget formulation.
He stressed that research and innovation are essential for the country’s prosperity and long-term development, adding that the ministry will take significant steps to strengthen this sector.
“The ministry will take important steps that cannot be avoided for the country’s prosperity,” Pun said. “We will continuously work to develop a culture of research and innovation in development planning across federal, provincial and local governments, as well as among the general public.”
He further emphasized the need for coordination among all levels of government and stakeholders to establish science, technology and innovation as foundational pillars of national development.
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