Kathmandu: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Pachanda' has said the budget for coming fiscal year 2024/25 is relatively balanced, equitable and result-oriented. Responding to queries raised by lawmakers on different headings of the Office of the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Council of Ministers and subordinate bodies under the Appropriation Bill, 2081 in today's meeting of the house of Representatives, PM Dahal clarified that the budget has set a target of achieving good governance, social justice and prosperity through speedy development. He said, "Looking at provincial budget allocation, comparatively adequate budget has been allotted to Karnali and Madhes Provinces." Budget was allocated by formulating programmes of different ministries to achieve targeted goals determining five objectives, five priorities, five strategies of economic reforms and five transformative areas, shared the Prime Minister. He clarified that the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has be en carrying out activities to make governance system people-oriented, accountable, responsible and result-oriented. Sharing that the federal democratic republic governance system has made the arrangement of President and Vice-President as the supreme respected guardian institutions, PM Dahal underlined the constitution has defined duties, responsibility, rights and role of both President and Vice-President. Article 73 of the Constitution states that there shall be separate offices for the performance of the functions of the President and the Vice President and the Government of Nepal shall make arrangements for employees and other provisions as required to perform the functions of the offices, the Prime Minister reminded, adding that budget allocations to the Office of the President and the Vice President were made accordingly. As he said, the budget has been appropriated to various nine divisions under the subordination of the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, he said the budget tow ards the current expenditure has been significantly reduced this time. According to the Prime Minister, the significance of the National Planning Commission has further increased in view of drafting overall and integrated policies and planning in the existing federal set-up. Describing the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers as a supreme executive body in the nation, he said the placement of the Department of Money Laundering Investigation under the Office is expected to strengthen the ground for cooperation and collaboration at the national and international levels on the related issues. He also apprised the House that 68 quotas at the Office have been reduced. Similarly, the National Investigation Department has been placed under the subordination of the Office to address the related affairs directly bearing in mind the sensitivity of information and the effectiveness of security management. "The international practice is that such security agency remains under the subordination of the executive chief of the country. In Nepal too, this approach was implemented after going through much analysis, he apprised the House. Source: National News Agency Nepal
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