Budget execution my top priority: Paudel

KATHMANDU: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Bishnu Prasad Paudel, has said that execution of the 2025/26 fiscal budget will be his top priority.

Speaking at a press meet at the finance ministry on Friday, Paudel said he would not wait for the new fiscal year to begin on July 17 to start implementation. “The challenge lies in the effective execution of the budget. This is not a budget brought just to sound good to the public—it will be implemented meaningfully and efficiently. From today itself, my full focus will be on its execution,” he said.

He added that the ministry has already begun work on a practical and objective implementation plan and that projects, which have completed preparatory works, can move forward without delay. “There is no need to wait until July 17,” he added.

Paudel also claimed that the budget is not overly ambitious and has been formulated in an objective manner in terms of both revenue and expenditure. He added that the budget aims to increase capital expenditure, maintain current expenditure within defined limits, and boost fiscal transfers to provincial and local governments.

He expressed optimism that the revenue targets would be met. Paudel added that the estimate for domestic borrowing is within the ceiling prescribed by the National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission.

“To support economic growth and prosperity, the government plans to mobilise resources through alternative financing mechanisms,” he said. “The government plans to link the national identity card with social security and other benefits.”

Paudel added that the value-addition tax imposed on digital payments and the advance income tax at customs points have been removed.

Also speaking on the occasion, National Planning Commission (NPC) Vice Chairperson, Prof Dr Shiva Raj Adhikari, said that the real test of the budget lies in its implementation and the outcomes it delivers. “Efforts are underway to introduce policy, structural and practical reforms to enhance budget execution,” he said. “NPC will coordinate with all ministries and agencies in matters of budget implementation, monitoring and evaluation. We will soon begin discussions with all ministries to finalise the implementation plan.”