Himal Press 
Minister for Finance Khanal with newly elected executive committee of SEJON.
KATHMANDU: Minister for Finance Rameshore Khanal has said that Nepal will not need to rely on donor agencies or neighboring countries for funds to hold the federal parliamentary elections scheduled for March 5.
Speaking at a meeting with the newly elected executive committee of the Society of Economic Journalists-Nepal (SEJON) in Kathmandu on Thursday, Khanal said that over 1,300 projects not yet entered into the project bank in the budget for the fiscal year had been identified. “A total of Rs 110 billion has been allocated for these projects,” Khanal said. “Around Rs 1.2 billion earmarked under various headings, such as workshops and meetings, can also be mobilized for election-related expenditure.”
Khanal said budgets would be drawn from projects that have not started yet.
According to Khanal, any remaining funds allocated for the elections will be redirected toward reconstruction. “Since Rs 2.5 billion was spent for the previous three-tier elections, we expect the expenditure to be lower this year,” Khanal said. “However, costs could increase due to heightened security needs and damage to some local government buildings.”
“More than 1,300 projects not yet entered into the project bank in the budget for the fiscal year had been identified. A total of Rs 110 billion has been allocated for these projects,” Khanal said.
Khanal also said the cabinet was taking all necessary measures to resolve challenges faced by the Election Commission (EC). “Once the EC completes budget preparation from its side, the finance ministry will make budget arrangements. There is no need to look abroad or consult any neighboring country for this,” he added.
Khanal also revealed that the ministry was preparing to present the “Business Recovery Plan” to the Cabinet. “The recovery plan has been developed with participation not just from the government but from all stakeholders,” he said.
According to Khanal, the ministry will propose the creation of a dedicated fund to serve three main purposes: first, to provide additional support to families of those who lost their lives; second, to fund the reconstruction of public infrastructure; and third, to assist the private sector in restoring damaged structures. “Support for the private sector will primarily come through customs exemptions on imported construction materials rather than direct funding from the state coffers,” Khanal explained.
