
BUTWAL: The Lumbini Province Assembly has passed the provincial government’s budget for the fiscal year 2025/26 with a majority vote.
The provincial government has presented a budget of Rs 38.91 billion for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins in mid-July.
The meeting also passed the Financial Bill, 2025, tabled by Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Dhanendra Karki.
Earlier, both opposition and ruling coalition lawmakers had expressed dissatisfaction with the new budget, arguing that it was overly centered on the minister’s interests rather than being inclusive. Responding to the concerns, Chief Minister Chet Narayan Acharya said that the budget was not based on empty assumptions but on scientific analysis, actual needs and relevance. He assured the lawmakers that the government would incorporate constructive suggestions and make necessary adjustments as needed.
Of the total budget, Rs 12.01 billion (30.88%) has been allocated for recurrent expenditure, while Rs 23.47 billion (60.32%) has been earmarked for capital expenditure.
Four parties, including the main opposition CPN (Maoist Center), boycotted the meeting of the provincial assembly on Tuesday. However, the session continued on Wednesday after the ruling party compelled coalition partners, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party (LSP) Nepal and Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP), to withdraw their support from the government and made their lawmakers sit on the opposition bench.