- Friday, 29 August 2025
Kathmandu, July 30: The Ministry of Finance has formed a taskforce for the formulation of a law to help improve budget discipline in the country.
Chief of Fiscal Federalism Coordination Division under Ministry of Finance, Mahesh Baral has been assigned the coordinator of the taskforce, informed the Secretariat of the Minister of Finance.
Other members in the taskforce include Under Secretary in the MoF Budget Formulation Division, Under Secretary in the Legal and Judgement Execution Division and former Joint Secretary Nirmal Hari Adhiakri as a theme expert while Under Secretary of the Fiscal Federalism Division has been entrusted as member-secretary of the taskforce.
It may be noted that point number 359 of the budget speech of the current fiscal year has stated to maintain allocation efficiency and increase efficiency of public financial management, enhance the outcomes of public spending through budget discipline and consolidate cash flow management for maintaining balance in the Federal Reserve Fund.
Likewise, it has also specified provisions to utilize the public borrowing in productive sector in a sustainable manner, and execute the public financial management strategy.
The point number 371 of the budget speech has mentioned about the formulation of a law to consolidate budget discipline at federal, provincial and local levels as per the constitution.
The MoF has formed the taskforce to implement the arrangements specified in the budget speech.
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Indra Baniya elected NC PP leader of Bagmati Province
Hetauda, July 30: Indra Baniya has been elected the Parliamentary Party Leader of Nepali Congress in Bagmati Province assembly.
In the election held today Baniya defeated Chief Minister Bahadur Singh Lama by receiving 22 votes against 14 votes. According to the election committee, one vote was invalid.
A total of 37 provincial assembly members participated in the voting.
It may be noted that during the previous election held for the same post Baniya and Lama, Lama had been elected with 21 votes while Baniya received 16 votes.
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Madhesh water crisis: power for irrigation to cost only Rs 3 per unit
Kathmandu, July 30: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the electricity tariff for irrigation has been fixed at only Rs 3 per unit.
Taking to his social media account today, the Prime Minister has also said that 500 deep borings are being dug in the drought-stricken Madhesh Province.
“The work of digging 500 deep borings has started in the Tarai. Farmers will be charged only Rs 3 per unit of electricity for irrigation,” Prime Minister Oli has noted.
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Nepal has been strongly raising issue of climate justice: Foreign
Gandaki, July 30: Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba has shared that Nepal has been strongly raising the issue of climate justice in international forums.
At a programme organised by Nepal Tarun Dal, Kaski, at Pokhara on Wednesday, Foreign Minister Rana expressed the view that Nepal should get compensation through Fund for responding to Loss and Damage.
Stating that Nepal had raised voice related to this issue in the International Court of Justice, the Foreign Minister said that Nepal has been facing negative impacts of carbon emission by developed countries.
“We strongly raised the issue that Nepal should get compensated for loss and damage and our damaged physical structures like bridges and school buildings should be built”, she mentioned, adding “Nepal should lower carbon emission to net-zero. A tree plantation campaign should be launched to expand forest area which is now stands at 45 per cent.”
Stating that climate change has invited a major challenge, Minister Rana stressed the role of new generation is important to lessen its risks.
“It is necessary to plant trees, to reduce the use of plastic, to increase the use of electric vehicles and renewable energy to protect the coming generation from climate change impacts”, she argued.
The Foreign Minister further said Nepal’s independency and sovereignty have been established in the world due to its stable foreign policy, sharing, “Nepal has its own foreign policy. It has its own identity in the world community and we have been maintaining it since long. It is a matter of pride for all.”
Similarly, National Assembly member and outgoing central President of Nepal Tarun Dal, Jit Jung Basnet, urged the Tarun Dal to hold its convention of all-levels on time.
He emphasized on the implementation of seven-point deal signed between Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) during formation of the government.
Likewise, Tarun Dal president Bidhwan Gurung urged the members of the organisation to involve in rescue and relief in the event of a disaster.
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Early warning system essential in multi-disaster risk reduction
Kathmandu, July 30: Stakeholders have emphasized on the need for early warning system to help reduce weather-related multi-disaster risk.
At a consultation organised by the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) various speakers said that an early warning system (EWS) is necessary to minimize damage as weather-related disasters have been increasing of late.
On the occasion, Director General of the Department, Kamal Ram Joshi, said that early warning is necessary in a country like Nepal with a complex topography, where the risk of water and weather-related multi-disasters created by climate change and its effects is increasing. “An early warning system is necessary to minimize the human and economic losses that may occur from such disasters,” he said.
Deputy Director General, Suman Kumar Regmi, said that to make the early warning system effective it is necessary to improve the importance of monitoring and forecasting, the need for available resources, technology, infrastructure, institutional capacity and service expansion in a timely manner.
Joint Secretary of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, Arjun Kumar Bam, said that a reliable early warning system will not only reduce the impact of natural disasters but also play an important role in protecting the lives and livelihoods of communities.
UNDP’s Climate Change and Resilience Program Analyst Deepak KC said that Early Warning for All campaign launched at the initiative of the United Nations will help identify the gaps in the EWS and determine the necessary programs.
The Early Warning for All campaign aims to protect all citizens of the world from early warning services by 2027.
Meteorologist Shanti Kandel said that due to the early warning system damage caused by floods has been reduced in recent times and that an early warning system is also necessary for other multi-hazards.
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Preparation of strategic concept paper on wellness tourism mulled
Kathmandu, July 30: The first meeting of the National Tourism Council has decided to prepare a strategic concept paper for promoting wellness tourism in the country.
The meeting held under the chairpersonship of Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey at Singhadurbar today has decided to develop policy structures with a focus on wellness tourism for long-term and inclusive development of the tourism sector.
Joint Secretary at the Ministry, Indu Ghimire said that the meeting decided to formalize the decision-making process of charting out the concept paper by forming a sub-committee comprising representatives of ministries of health, environment, tourism, education and local level.
A 13-member sub-committee headed by the chief of the tourism division has been formed for the preparation of the strategic concept paper on wellness tourism.
Under-Secretary of the Tourism Promotion Section in the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has been assigned the member-secretary of the sub-committee. The decision of the council is expected to substantially contribute to the enrichment of wellness tourism as a new potential through policy making.
It may be noted that the recently formulated Tourism Policy has provided for a 27-member National Tourism Council led by the Tourism Minister.
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Industry Ministry appoints three expert members
Kathmandu, July 30: The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has appointed three expert members to Board of Trade representing the private sector.
Those appointed are Kush Kumar Joshi, Bidhusi Rana and Jyotshna Shrestha, according to the Ministry.
According to the Private Secretariat of Industry Minister Damodar Bhandari, they were appointed to the Board of Trade in accordance with Commerce Policy, 2081 as per minister-level decision dated July 29.
Parliament and MPs medium to strengthen international cooperation: Speaker Ghimire
Kathmandu, July 30: Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR) Devraj Ghimire has said that Parliament and MPs are not only representatives of the voters but also a means to strengthen international cooperation.
Addressing the ‘Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliaments’ organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the United Nations (UN) in Geneva earlier today, he said that it is possible to contribute to building a more dynamic world by including the perspectives of stakeholders in the decision-making process through parliamentary procedures.
According to the Speaker’s press coordinator Shekhar Adhikari, Speaker Ghimiré emphasized the important role of parliaments in transforming international agreements and understandings into domestic policies. ‘In today’s world, where different values, priorities, and interests guide us, it is very difficult to reach to a common understanding. The UN and other intergovernmental organizations must strengthen the legitimacy of multilateral institutions for it.’
He emphasized that not only the government but also civil society, the private sector, educational institutions, and community organizations need to be defined in the creation of global governance, and it is essential to prioritize openness and participatory dialogue. “To make the current global governance system truly effective, inclusivity must be promoted; we must ensure meaningful participation of underrepresented groups such as women, youth, and indigenous communities in decision-making processes, and the role of parliamentarians is extremely important to this effort,” he said.
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Prime Minister’s Office becomes economical, cuts down expenses
Kathmandu, July 30: The directive by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to make public expenditure productive, economical and rational has stated to see results following its implementation.
As per the directive given by the Prime Minister to the government secretaries, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers (OPMCM) itself has reduced its annual expenditure.
Expenses under the headings of fuel, communications, vehicle repairs, and office supplies and miscellaneous expenses were reduced in the last fiscal year compared to the previous fiscal year.
Compared to the fiscal year 2080/081, the OPMCM office has cut expenses under various headings in 2081/082, resulting in a savings of 20.64 million. A comparative study of the expenses of the Prime Minister’s Office in the fiscal years 2080/081 and 2081/082 shows that there was a savings in miscellaneous expenses, in monitoring and evaluation, and in the purchase of office supplies and office equipment.
The expenditure of the Prime Minister’s Office during the tenure of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was less than that of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’. Overall, the expenditure of the Prime Minister’s Office during the Oli tenure was reduced by 33.27 percent compared to the Prachanda’s tenure.
The Prime Minister’s Office has spent more in the monitoring and evaluation expenditure heading in the last fiscal year than in the previous fiscal year. A total of 2.194 million was spent in the fiscal year 2080/81, while 3.352 million was spent in the fiscal year 2081/82.
Meanwhile, other ministries and responsible officials have also been held accountable for cutting down expenses.
It may be noted that the government has been giving high priority to good governance and governance reforms since the formation of a high-level governance reforms commission under the leadership of the Prime Minister.
Furthermore, the current government has been giving high priority to cutting public expenditure and increasing the development budget to improve the situation of the economy.
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UML to support NC establishment side for forming Bagmati province
government
Hetauda, July 30: The CPN (UML) is to support the establishment side of the Nepali Congress in course of forming Bagmati province government.
Releasing a decision of CPN (UML) Bagmati Province Parliamentary Party, Parliamentary Party leader Jagannath Thapaliya shared this.
The UML shared that the UML did power sharing with the party not with individual, adding so the party will support the establishment side.
The CPN (UML) is alert not to allow problems to occur in the government due to internal problem of the NC, he opined.
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Cent percent exemption on land revenue for farmers of crisis-hit zone
Janakpurdhan, July 30: Manarashisawa Municipality has exempted the land revenue so as to render economic relief to the farmers of the dry-hit zone.
The municipality has announced to waive hundred percent tax to the farmers in the land during the current fiscal year. Issuing a press release, the municipality has said
the decision on exemption of hundred percent land revenue has been made as the farmers have been deprived of transplanting paddy in the field due to lack of irrigation. This is likely to lead to an economic crisis resulted in from the dearth of food production.
Likewise, Sarlahi’s Dhankol Rural Municipality and Godaita Municipality have also announced land revenue exemption to farmers in the current fiscal year.
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NAWF observes golden jubilee: PM hopeful of further contribution to socio-development endeavours
Kathmandu, July 30: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has expressed his confidence that the Nepal Army Welfare Fund (NAWF) would further contribute to propel social works and advance shared destination of development through welfare programmes.
In his address to a special programme organized at the Nepal Army Headquarters on the occasion of the golden jubilee of the establishment of Army Welfare Fund today, Fund’s patron PM Oli lauded various welfare-based programmes being run by the Army Welfare Directorate through the Fund for the on-the-job and retired army personnel and their dependent families.
The Army Welfare Fund instituted by funds from the income generated from the UN mission has substantial contributions to different areas related to education, health, family residence and social security thereby sharing the burden of the State, the PM noted.
“The Fund has contributed to build capacity of the retired army personnel and ease their life after retirement through self-reliance promoting programmes”, he further said.
The Prime Minister expressed the hope that the NA would emphatically review its welfare-based programmes, expand access and enhance its quality delivery.
Also on the occasion, PM Oli honoured those contributing to the establishment and operation of the Fund.
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One killed, another injured in landslide
Kaski, July 30: One person has died after being buried in a landslide in Ghachowk, Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality-3, Kaski.
Tej Bahadur Gurung, 23, of Pokhara Metropolitan City-25, died the landslides that occurred in the morning on the Hemja-Machhapuchhre road section in Lastikhola, Ghachowk. His body was recovered in the afternoon, said Deputy Superintendent of Police Hari Bahadur Basnet of the District Police Office, Kaski.
Gurung was reportedly going to feed his pigs when he buried in the landslide.
Likewise, Suraj Mohan Pokharel, 46, of Machhapuchhre-3, assistant principal of the local Shukla Gandaki Secondary School, has been injured in the incident.
Pokharel, was rescued by the locals and is undergoing treatment at Manipal Teaching Hospital in Pokhara.
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UML’s whip to support CM Shah in trust motion
Sudurpaschim, July 30: The CPN (UML) Parliamentary Party, Sudurpaschim Province Assembly, on Wednesday issued a whip to its province assembly members to cast vote in favour of Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah of the Nepali Congress.
Chief Minister Shah is presenting a proposal, seeking a vote of confidence in the province assembly meeting scheduled on Thursday.
Chief Whip of the CPN (UML), Chakra Bahadur Malla, shared that the parliamentary party meeting held at Parliamentary Party Office, Dhangadhi, issued the whip to its members to mandatory present in the province assembly meeting taking place on Thursday and cast vote in favour of the motion of trust.
Chief Minister Shah is going to seek a vote of confidence from the province assembly after the Nagarik Unmukti Party withdrew its support from the government on July 4.
As per the constitutional provision of facing motion of trust within 30 days, CM Shah has to seek vote of confidence within August 2. Though the Nagarik Unmukti Party withdrew its support from the government, there is majority of the Nepali Congress and CPN (UML) in the province assembly.
The parliamentary party meeting of the Nagarik Unmukti Party decided to take back its support to the Chief Minister after Nagarik Unmukti Party’s Minister Rameshwor Chaudhary was relieved from the post.
The 53-member Sudurpaschim Province Assembly has 18 members from the NC, 11 from the CPN (UML), 11 from CPN (Maoist Centre), seven from Nagarik Unmukti Party, four from CPN (Unified Socialist-one suspended), one from Rastriya Prajatantra Party and one independent member.
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