- Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Kathmandu, May 28: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said the government is committed to taking the peace process to a logical conclusion as well as concluding the remaining task of transitional justice.
At a special function organised at Nepal Army Pavilion, Tundikhel today on the occasion of Republic Day, Prime Minister Dahal said that most of the activities related to conflict management and establishment of peace have been completed to address the sentiments of the constitution.
“The government is firmed to take the peace process to the logical conclusion and complete the remaining activities of transitional justice”, he added.
As he said. Nepal’s practice in conflict management and establishment of peace has been established as a new example in the world.
He explained that allowance has been distributed to the left injured and mutilated during the armed conflict and people’s movement with the management of compensation, treatment, employment opportunities, financial assistance, and rehabilitation facilities for the conflict-affected families.
The PM clarified that the three-tier elections held in a free, fearless, and impartial manner have strengthened the federal governance system in the country, adding the three-level governments function for the welfare and prosperity of the citizens.
“The government is committed to advancing the country towards its national aspiration for prosperous Nepal, happy Nepali along with the establishment of political stability, good governance, development, and social justice as it yearns for achieving a socialism-oriented socio-economic transformation as per the need of the nation and the citizens,” the Prime Minister said.
As the head of the government announced, the effective implementation of the constitution, strengthening of federalism, economic reform and recovery, promotion of good governance, improvement, and simplification in public service delivery system, the establishment of civic-friendly governance, and the prevention of corruption are the top priorities of the government.
According to him, those communities who were pushed into exclusions for ages to age now have their rights and participation in the decision-making levels at the State’s various bodies following a revolutionary change in the nation.
Communities that endured centuries of oppression, including those subjected to untouchability, now hold positions in 6,743 wards and other State bodies.
The women community who are referred to as ‘half the sky’ were largely confined to the domestic roles. But with the historic transformation in the country, they lead the 753 local levels as the mayors or the deputy mayors.
Stating that women’s participation has been ensured not only in the public sector but also in the political and social sectors, the Prime Minister said various constitutional commissions are working to promote the rights of those communities facing exclusion and to mainstream their participation in each body of the State. “We are commemorating Republic Day as a milestone in Nepal’s journey towards prosperity, symbolizing the eradication of social, cultural, and economic disparities that have long existed in Nepali society.”
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10- Schedule for budget speech postponed by two hours
Kathmandu, May 28: The schedule for the presentation of the government’s estimations of revenue and expenditures (budget) for the fiscal year 2081-82 BS (2024-25) has been postponed by two hours. Earlier, Speaker Devraj Ghimire scheduled the budget speech at 1:00 pm today before a joint sitting of the Federal Parliament. Now, it has been rescheduled for 3:00 pm.
Finance Minister Barshaman Pun will be presenting the budget for the upcoming fiscal year in the joint parliamentary session today.
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11- Govt.’s annual development programme, medium term expenditure framework passed
Kathmandu, May 28: A full meeting of the National Planning Commission has approved government’s annual development programme and three-year medium term expenditure framework.
The full meeting passed the both documents to be tabled in the parliament along with budget in the meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers under chairmanship of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’.
The annual development programme is tabled in the parliament along with budget. Financial discipline would be maintained, allocative efficiency would be fully followed, and budget allocation would be made according to the spending capacity of organisations in the budget, according to the PM Dahal’s Private Secretariat.
On the occasion, Prime Minster Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said he had directed to make people-oriented budget and Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun has prepared the budget in accordance to it.
Finance Minister Pun, NPC vice-chair Dr Min Bahadur Shrestha, Chief Secretary Baikuntha Aryal and members and member-secretary were present in the meeting.
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12- Formation of parliamentary committee likely today, NC’s green signal to end House impasse
Kathmandu, May 28: Parties in the opposition including the Nepali Congress (NC) have given a green signal to end the ongoing parliamentary impasse.
A parliamentary party meeting of the Nepali Congress (NC) held today endorsed the political consensus reached on Monday to form a parliamentary committee to investigate the alleged involvement of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Rabi Lamichhane in the misappropriation of cooperative funds.
The major political parties in the parliament on Monday were ready to form the Committee with the consensus regarding the number of its members, mandate, and the duration of investigation, according to NC Chief Whip, Ramesh Lekhak.
The NC has been obstructing the parliamentary proceedings since a long time with the demand for forming the parliamentary committee to probe the role of Home Minister Lamichhane in the embezzlement of cooperative funds. As the party said, the parliamentary committee is warranted to ensure an impartial investigation of the issue.
A task force formed to determine the Committee’s mandate is expected to finalize it by today itself.
As Lekhak said, a session of the House of Representatives scheduled to take place this afternoon will implement the agreement to establish the Committee. Prior to this, the NC is likely to recommend the names on behalf of the party to be included on the committee.
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13- Preparations for UML’s National Women’s Gathering complete
Kathmandu, May 28: Preparations for the National Women Gathering of the CPN (UML) have been completed. The two-day event will commence tomorrow, May 29.
According to Bhanubhakta Dhakal, the party’s Standing Committee member and the coordinator of the CPN (UML) People’s Organization Coordination Mechanism, all arrangements for the event have been completed.
Around 5,000 representatives including women leaders from the party’s 23 affiliated organizations, people’s representatives on behalf of the party, and women office bearers from the party province and district committees, FSU women members from the ANNIFSU will be participating in the gathering.
The party decided to host the gathering commemorating the passage of the resolution by the parliament on May 30, 2006. The resolution aimed to endorse a mother’s right to pass on citizens to her offspring, ensure women’s one-third participation at all levels of the State, and abolish discriminatory laws and violence against women.
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14- Republic Day observed in China, Pakistan
Kathmandu, May 28: The 17th Republic Day of Nepal has been observed in China and Pakistan today.
The Republic Day was marked by organising a special programme at the Nepali Embassy in Beijing in presence of diplomatic employees. Tributes were paid to known and unknown martyrs, who sacrificed their lives for the establishment of democracy and republic in the country, according to the Embassy.
On the occasion, Nepali Ambassador to China, Bishnu Pukar Shrestha, lauded the struggle and sacrifice of the Nepali people as well as political parties to make the Nepali society prosperous and inclusive.
Shedding light on the various initiatives taken by the government to institutionalize the republic, he laid emphasis that all the citizens should be united for the country’s development.
Similarly, The Embassy premises were illuminated on Monday, would continue today and tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Republic Day was marked today by organising a programme in the premises of Nepali Embassy in Islamabad.
Talking about the importance of the Republic Day, Nepali Ambassador to Pakistan, Tapas Adhkari, said all should contribute from their respective places to protect the republic gained from a long struggle, according to the Embassy.
On the occasion, best wishes message from President Ramchandra Paudel was read out on the occasion of the Republic Day.
Nepalis working at Islamabad-based different international organisations, Nepali students, and employees of the government of Nepal, Embassy staffs were present on the occasion.
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15- Budget passed by Council of Ministers
Kathmandu, May 28: The meeting of the Council of Ministers this afternoon has passed the annual estimates of the revenue and expenditure (budget) of the government for the financial year 2081/82 (2024-25).
The budget is being presented by Finance Minister Barshaman Pun at the joint meeting of the Federal Parliament.
Minister of Communications and Information Technology and Government Spokesperson Rekha Sharma shared that the meeting of the Council of Ministers held at Singha Durbar has decided to pass the budget. The laws related to the budget will also be presented to the parliament.
The joint meeting of the parliament has already begun.
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16- Finance Minister Pun presenting FY 2081/82 budget
Kathmandu, May 28: Finance Minister Barshman Pun has started presenting the annual estimates of the government’s revenue and expenditure (budget) for the financial year 2081/82 at the joint meeting of the federal parliament.
Earlier today, the joint session of Parliament scheduled for 1 pm was postponed for two hours to address the demand of the main opposition, Nepali Congress that had been blocking the House demanding the formation of a parliamentary inquiry committee to look into alleged misappropriation of funds of financial cooperatives.
The deadlock in the parliament has ended after the major parties reached an agreement on the formation of the committee and its terms of reference.
After the joint meeting, both houses will hold separate meetings today.
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17- Karnali Province government records around four billion in arrears
Bheriganga (Surkhet), May 28: The accumulated arrears of the Karnali Province government and subordinate offices have soared to around four billion rupees.
The 61st report of the Auditor General highlights that the arrears of the Karnali Province government and subordinate entities amount to three billion 948 million rupees. The size of arrears has significantly increased in the outgoing fiscal year compared to the previous fiscal year.
During the fiscal year 2078-79 BS (2021-22), the arrears were recorded below three billion totaling Rs two billion 985 million.
The report shows that arrears of Rs 967.07 million increased in the fiscal year 2079-80 BS (2022-23) alone. The report incorporates the audit of the province government and 155 subordinate offices.
The Auditor General’s assessment places Karnali in the second position among the seven provinces in terms of arrears size, accounting for 2.59 percent of the expenditures.
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18- FY 2024/25 Budget: Government announces FY 2024/25 for economic reforms
Kathmandu, May 28: The government has announced that the upcoming fiscal year 2081-82 BS (2024-25) will be a year of economic reforms.
Presenting the budget estimates for the new fiscal year before a joint sitting of the Federal Parliament today, Finance Minister Barshaman Pun said that the focus will be on economic reforms.
According to the Finance Minister, the budget aims to address long-standing challenges in the economy including an imbalance in the public finance, increasing size of public debt, limited capital expenditures, and the lack of revenue collection as per the targets. Such initiative will be taken through the implementation of fresh programmes for economic reforms.
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19- Parliamentary taskforce submits report to PM Dahal
Kathmandu, May 28: The taskforce formed to develop the terms of reference (ToR) of the parliamentary probe committee has presented its report to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ today. This has led to an end in the parliament impasse after a political consensus was forged for it.
The taskforce formed under coordination of Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Padam Giri, today submitted the report to the Prime Minster at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
On the occasion, PM Dahal thanked all taskforce members including the coordinator for fulfilling their role efficiently.
The taskforce has determined the committee’s TOR as to give suggestion by carrying out study regarding crisis of cooperatives, laws related to it, institutional purpose, regulations of financial system, supervision and transparency.
The committee will carry out a study and recommend measures to protect the savings of depositors of financial cooperative institutions that are in a crisis and help return the funds at risk and that have been misused.
The terms of reference (ToR) of the Parliamentary Committee will be to study and analyze the process of returning the savings of the cooperatives that have been designated as problematic and to suggest ways to return the savings immediately.
The Committee also has the mandated to investigate into the complaints by members and depositors of co-operative societies about embezzlement, misappropriation and improper transactions of money deposited in financial co-operatives, and of the complaints registered at various levels and agencies about the illegal transfer of funds from co-operative institutions to other companies or organizations such as Gorkha Media Network, Pvt. Ltd. It shall also recommend measures to recover the amount at risk and action against those involved in the irregularities.
The term of office of the seven-member committee will be three months. The committee will study 29 problematic cooperatives as well as other cooperatives.
Task force members Jeevan Pariyar, Mahesh Kumar Bartaula, Shishir Khanal, Hitraj Pandey and Gyanendra Bahadur Karki were also present on the occasion.
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20- FY 2024/25 Budget: Govt. to legalize marijuana for medicinal purpose
Kathmandu, May 28: The government is to legalize marijuana cultivation and consumption for medicinal purpose.
Presenting the government’s budget estimates for coming fiscal year 2024/25 in the joint meeting of the parliament today, Finance Minister said necessary laws would be formulated for commercial production of marijuana in the country.
“Legal arrangements will be made for commercial cultivation of marijuana for medical use “, he said.
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21- FY 2024/25 Budget: High-level taskforce for structural reforms of economy
Kathmandu, May 28: The government has set five strategies and five priorities of the budget and outlined five strategies for economic reforms in the upcoming fiscal years.
According to the budget estimates for the upcoming fiscal year presented by Finance Minister Barshaman Pun before a joint sitting of the Federal Parliament today, increasing production, productivity, and employment, securing investment and growth and accelerating economic activities by boosting the morale of the private sector, achieving the human resource development, alleviating economic disparities and poverty though the balanced and just mobilization of resources and increasing the effectiveness of the public service delivery have been presented as the five objectives of the budget for the new fiscal year.
Similarly, economic reforms and the encouragement of the private sector, construction of industrial infrastructure such as agricultural energy information technology, development of education, health-like social sector, promotion of inclusion, social security, and good governance, and the enhancement of public service system are cited as the five priorities of the government for the upcoming fiscal year.
Structural reforms, improvement in the business environment, reforms in the public finance system, financial sector reforms, and reforms in public administration are mentioned as the five strategies for economic reforms.
As the budget announced, a high-level task force will be formed to provide submissions to the government for structural reforms of the economy.
Likewise, the government pledges to enact favourable policies, complete country rating, and eliminate dual taxation to promote an environment conducive for business in the country.
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22- FY 2024/25 Budget:567 billion rupees for PLGs
Kathmandu, May 28: The federal government is to allocate 567 billion rupees to the provincial and local governments (PLGs) in the coming financial year 2024/25. This will be made through fiscal transfer and revenue sharing from the federal budget.
According to the budget statement read out by Finance Minister Barshman Pun in the Parliament today, on the recommendation of the National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission (NNFRC), the federal government has allocated Rs 60 billion for the provinces and Rs 88 billion for the local level towards the fiscal equalization grants.
Likewise, conditional grant worth Rs.25.84 billion has been earmarked for the provinces and Rs.28.88 billion for the local level.
Another 6.2 billion rupees have been allocated to the province and 7 billion rupees to the local level towards supplementary grants. In addition, 4.4 billion rupees have been allocated for the province and 8.5 billion rupees for the local level as special grant.
Finance Minister Pun noted that arrangements will be made to transfer conditional, supplementary and special grants based on performance. The government estimates that 159 billion rupees will be transferred to the provincial and local levels as part of revenue sharing.
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