Lumbini Provincial Government to present new budget focusing on development priorities

The Lumbini Provincial Government is set to present the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/084 to the Provincial Assembly today, Ashadh 1. The agenda is for Finance and Planning Minister Dhanendra Karki to present the budget at 5 PM during the ninth meeting of the eighth session of the Provincial Assembly.

The provincial government has stated that the budget preparation has prioritized settling liabilities, provincial pride projects, multi-year and sequential plans, considering limited resources, increasing obligations, and incomplete development works.

The upcoming budget is expected to focus on increasing production, creating employment, infrastructure development, good governance, and social justice. The government has prioritized the modernization of agriculture, expansion of irrigation, organic farming, conservation of local and indigenous crops, branding of agricultural products, and value chain development.

The budget will include policies to increase agricultural production, substitute imports, and promote exports. It will also emphasize creating employment opportunities through skill-based training, startups, self-employment, and innovation programs targeting the youth.

In the health sector, the budget plans to continue upgrading hospitals, expanding specialist services, and providing concessions for cancer, kidney transplants, and heart disease treatments. In education, programs for technical education, IT-friendly teaching systems, and sports infrastructure development are expected to be included.

Regarding infrastructure development, the budget will focus on completing unfinished and multi-year projects, increasing the effectiveness of capital expenditure, and continuing provincial pride projects. The government has also indicated that digital governance, simplification of service delivery, and financial discipline will be prioritized.

The budget aims to stimulate the province’s economy by maximizing the use of tourism, industry, energy, and local resources. The program to develop Lumbini as an international religious and health tourism center will continue.

For the current fiscal year 2082/083, the provincial government had introduced a budget of Rs. 38.91 billion, with Rs. 23.47 billion allocated for capital expenditure and Rs. 15.43 billion for current expenditure. It is indicated that the government is preparing to bring a budget around Rs. 38 billion.