Koshi Province Government Presents Budget Principles and Priorities Amidst Criticism

Biratnagar. The Koshi Province government has presented the principles and priorities of the appropriation bill for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84 in the Provincial Assembly. Economic Affairs and Planning Minister Bidur Kumar Limthep presented the proposal, which was followed by discussions where MPs from both the ruling and opposition parties offered critical comments on the government's working style and priorities. MPs drew the minister's attention to the government's neglect of tourism, revenue collection, capital expenditure status, and Sagarmatha, which is a symbol of the province's identity.

CPN-UML MP Revatiraman Bhandari, from the ruling party itself, commented that while the principles and priorities presented by the government had good vocabulary, the reality on the ground was weak. According to Bhandari, the budget has failed to bring in poverty-targeted programs that directly address the large number of citizens still living below the poverty line in the province. He expressed doubts about achieving the revenue collection targets and capital expenditure contraction.