CPN-UML Far-West Province Parliamentary Party Directs Ministers on Budget and Governance

Dhangadhi. CPN (UML) Far-West Province Parliamentary Party has given 10-point directives to its ministers regarding the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2083-84 and government operation. The leader of the party, Rajendra Singh Rawal, issued written directives to the ministers on Thursday as per the decision of the parliamentary party meeting held on Wednesday. The directives state that ministers should work in accordance with the common policy, program, and minimum common commitment of the provincial government. Ministers have also been directed to regularly coordinate and consult with the parliamentary party on important policy, budget, and legal matters. The parliamentary party has told the ministers to study the status of revenue and expenditure of the current fiscal year, ministry-wise expenditure progress, liabilities of multi-year and ongoing projects, incomplete projects, federal grants, and the province's internal resources before determining the budget ceiling for the upcoming budget. The directives also include making a common opinion for determining the budget ceiling after studying these issues. The party has stated that projects should be selected only based on resources and budget limits, prioritizing them, and discouraging fragmented and distribution-oriented projects. Directives have been given to prioritize projects that complete incomplete projects, projects nearing completion, programs that increase production and employment, and programs that increase the province's revenue. Similarly, a policy to increase capital expenditure and reduce unnecessary operational expenditure has been advised. Ministers have been directed not to include large projects in the budget without adequate preparation and to distribute the budget equitably and indicator-based across all districts. The UML Parliamentary Party has also asked the ministers to prepare a 100-day action plan for their respective ministries and get it reviewed by the parliamentary party. The directives mention that each ministry must review the ongoing projects and budget and prepare a ministry-wise priority list for the upcoming fiscal year before receiving the budget ceiling. The parliamentary party has emphasized the need to maintain coordination and uniformity among the ministers representing the party from budget preparation to government operation.