Pokhara, 13 February | Secretary at the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, Laxmi Kumari Basnet, has directed heads of various departments and entities under the ministry to accelerate capital expenditure and ensure the effective delivery of good governance. Presiding over the second-quarter review meeting of the fiscal year 2025-26 and the Ministry-level Development Problems Solution Committee on Thursday, Secretary Basnet emphasized that all associated agencies must identify operational bottlenecks and work toward result-oriented outcomes that directly benefit the citizens. She stressed that efficient inter-agency coordination is vital to making public service delivery more streamlined and effective.
The mid-term financial data of the ministry reveals a stark contrast between recurrent and capital spending. While recurrent expenditure reached 87.93 percent of the allocated budget, the capital expenditure stood at a concerning 15.83 percent during the first six months of the current fiscal year. Addressing this gap, Secretary Basnet noted that issues such as budget shortages, lack of coordination, and procedural hurdles have hindered progress. She urged all departments to prioritize implementable projects and submit them to the “Project Bank” in a timely manner. Additionally, she called for intensified efforts in clearing arrears, stating that the ministry would establish a specific action plan for regular monitoring and facilitation.
During the meeting, General Manager of Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), Sandip Rai, reported satisfactory progress and highlighted institutional reforms, including enrolling temporary staff in the Social Security Fund. Dr. Mahendra Bista, Chairperson of Public Service Broadcasting (PSB) Nepal, spoke on the necessity of adequate resource assurance to meet the spirit of public broadcasting. Meanwhile, Under Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, Kamala Kharel, advised maintaining austerity in recurrent spending given the rising fiscal liabilities. Representatives from Nepal Telecom, Nepal Telecommunications Authority, and Gorkhapatra Sansthan also shared their administrative challenges, emphasizing that inter-ministerial synergy is indispensable for achieving national communication goals.
