Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Approach Paper of the 16th Five-year Periodic Plan (2024/25-2028/29) has been approved.
The plenary meeting of the National Planning Commission (NPC) chaired by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal endorsed the Approach Paper of the 16th Plan on Wednesday, according to NPC Spokesperson Suman Dahal.
Prime Minsiter chairs the NPC.
The NPC began the process of formulating the new periodic plan in the second week of June when it prepared the Procedures on Institutional Provisions for Formulation of the 16th Plan, 2023. According to Dahal, NPC has prepared a work plan to get the new periodic plan approved by the Council of Ministers by February 12, 2024.
The Approach Paper of the 16th Plan was sent to the Commission’s meeting after getting approval of the Steering Committee, which is chaired by the Vice Chairman, with some inputs. Prior to this, the NPC held discussions with subject experts on various sectors since June to collect suggestions on the Approach Paper.
The NPC will now engage with all ministries for preliminary discussions and obtain the necessary particulars from the sectoral ministries regarding the formulation of the detailed plan. The NPC plans to collect suggestions from ministries by August 24. Additionally, preparations for the overall economic and investment outline (Economic Modeling) will be completed by the last week of August.
The Commission aims to prepare and endorse the sector-wise integrated preliminary draft of the 16th Periodic Plan by the last week of September. It will then send the draft to the National Development Council and its members by the first week of October.
