Task force formed to identify resources for rebuilding, election

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Finance has formed a three-member task force to reallocate funds for rebuilding infrastructure damaged during the Gen Z movement and holding the House of Representatives election scheduled for March 5.

The task force, led by Budget and Program Division Chief Suman Dahal, has Foreign Aid Coordination Division Chief Dhaniram Sharma and Revenue Management Division Chief Uttar Kumar Khatri as members.

According to Tanka Prasad Pandey, the spokesperson for the finance ministry, the task force has been asked to conduct an internal study on reallocating funds by trimming or cutting some of the projects and programs included in the current budget.

“Additional resources are required for the elections and reconstruction works. The task force will study how resources can be managed within the existing budget framework, and which areas could potentially be adjusted,” Pandey said. “Some projects and programs may have to be cut. The task force has been authorized to set priorities for that.”

Newly appointed Minister for Finance Minister Rameshore Prasad Khanal announced on Monday that the government would remove politically motivated, fragmented and unprepared projects included in the budget for fiscal year 2025/26.

Stating that the government will not introduce a supplementary budget, Khanal said it aims to raise around Rs 100 billion for elections and reconstruction through reallocations from the existing budget.