Kathmandu, June 25: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Pachanda’ has said the budget for coming fiscal year 2024/25 is relatively balanced, equitable and result-oriented.
Responding to queries raised by lawmakers on different headings of the Office of the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and subordinate bodies under the Appropriation Bill, 2081 in today’s meeting of the house of Representatives, PM Dahal clarified that the budget has set a target of achieving good governance, social justice and prosperity through speedy development.
He said, “Looking at provincial budget allocation, comparatively adequate budget has been allotted to Karnali and Madhes Provinces.”
Budget was allocated by formulating programmes of different ministries to achieve targeted goals determining five objectives, five priorities, five strategies of economic reforms and five transformative areas, shared the Prime Minister.
He clarified that the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has been carrying out activities to make governance system people-oriented, accountable, responsible and result-oriented.
Sharing that the federal democratic republic governance system has made the arrangement of President and Vice-President as the supreme respected guardian institutions, PM Dahal underlined the constitution has defined duties, responsibility, rights and role of both President and Vice-President.
Article 73 of the Constitution states that there shall be separate offices for the performance of the functions of the President and the Vice President and the Government of Nepal shall make arrangements for employees and other provisions as required to perform the functions of the offices, the Prime Minister reminded, adding that budget allocations to the Office of the President and the Vice President were made accordingly.
As he said, the budget has been appropriated to various nine divisions under the subordination of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, he said the budget towards the current expenditure has been significantly reduced this time.
According to the Prime Minister, the significance of the National Planning Commission has further increased in view of drafting overall and integrated policies and planning in the existing federal set-up.
Describing the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers as a supreme executive body in the nation, he said the placement of the Department of Money Laundering Investigation under the Office is expected to strengthen the ground for cooperation and collaboration at the national and international levels on the related issues.
He also apprised the House that 68 quotas at the Office have been reduced.
Similarly, the National Investigation Department has been placed under the subordination of the Office to address the related affairs directly bearing in mind the sensitivity of information and the effectiveness of security management. “The international practice is that such security agency remains under the subordination of the executive chief of the country.
In Nepal too, this approach was implemented after going through much analysis, he apprised the House.
Initiatives being made to accept EPG Report on understanding of both nations: PM Dahal
Likewise, Prime Minister Dahal has made it clear that initiatives are on for receiving the report of the Nepal-India Eminent Persons Group (EPG) through understanding of the two countries. He said that he made the initiation for an understanding in that connection during his recent visit to India.
Responding to the supplementary questions of lawmakers on the budget and programmes allocated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the subordinate bodies under the Appropriation Bill, 2081 in the meeting of the House of Representatives today, the PM reiterated that the Nepal-India relations and treaties would be moved forward on the basis of national understanding.
Stating that regular contact and coordination is being established with the Embassy of Nepal in Moscow and the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Kathmandu regarding the information on the Nepali citizens who have died and held captive due to the Russia-Ukraine war, he said a taskforce has been set up to give recommendations for making the movement of Nepalis in Russia systematic.
The PM added that talks are being held with Ukraine through diplomatic channel in connection with the Nepalis held captive there in course of the conflict.
Making it clear that the appointment of ambassadors would be done on a merit basis, he vowed to render it more systematic in the coming days.
‘Government has kept rescue of Nepalis in difficulty in foreign land in priority’
Similarly, PM Dahal stated that Nepal’s diplomatic missions abroad have kept in high priority the task of facilitating the rescue of Nepali nationals in difficulty in foreign countries and in their repatriation home to Nepal if needed.
He said the Nepali ambassadors and mission chiefs have been provided orientation for making the foreign employment dignified, safe and systematic, adding that arrangements have been made so that services like repatriation of the bodies of those Nepalis killed abroad to Nepal and securing compensation would be available from the Nepal’s foreign diplomatic missions 24 hours.
“Arrangements have been made for establishing easy contact through hotline service as well as website and social site, besides telephone service at some of the diplomatic missions. Shelter homes have been managed at some missions including in Saudi Arabia, among some countries. The missions have been running psycho-social counseling services targeting the Nepali migrant workers through direct and online means,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that the Department of Passports has made the passport distribution and renewal services more effective and friendly to the service-seekers.
Likewise, PM Dahal said that the government is committed to mobilizing the Nepal’s overseas diplomatic missions and their chiefs to the best interest of the nation. He also made it clear that the government can, as per the Guidelines on Appointment of Ambassadors, recall the ambassadors before completion of their tenure if it deems necessary.
He further added that the policy of appointing at least 50 per cent ambassadors from the foreign services itself has been continued for keeping a balance between political appointments and the professionals in the ambassadorial appointments.
The Prime Minister expressed his belief that the ambassadorial appointment would be rendered more systematic, prestigious and transparent, and based on capacity and job performance, making the Guidelines as the main basis. #nepal #prachanda #rss
