FM Dr. Mahat begins budget execution initiatives

 Kathmandu, July 26

Immediately after a disappointing year for budget implementation with the utilisation of less than two-third of the capital allocation, Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat has begun manoeuvre to execute the budget from the beginning of the fiscal year.

Exhibiting a sort of 'aggressiveness' as stated by the Ministry of Finance (MoF), Dr. Mahat called a meeting of the secretaries of all federal ministries on Wednesday to urge them to give priority to the budget execution from now.

The finance minister has just returned to the Capital after making inspection trips to various customs and revenue offices across the country. He had directed the customs and revenue officials to put efforts to meet the revenue targets so the government has enough funds to finance the development projects.

The new Fiscal Year 2023/24 began 10 days ago on July 17. In the previous fiscal year, the government could mobilise only Rs. 233.7 billion capital budget – 61.44 per cent of the total allocation of Rs. 380.3 billion. Last year, 79.69 per cent of the total expenditure estimates of Rs. 1793.8 billion could be realised while revenue collection was Rs. 1031.7 billion – 70.73 per cent of the total target, according to the statistics of the Financial Comptroller General Office (FCGO).

Thus there was a gap of about Rs. 398 billion between the revenue collection and expenditures.

In the discussion with his fellow secretaries, FM Dr. Mahat directed the secretaries that only the projects that have a complete Detailed Project Report (DPR) should be open for contract process.

If the project need budgets for the DPR or if it is the priority project, the ministries could complete the DPR and go for contract by mid-November 2023. If the project couldn't be contracted out after completing the DPR by mid-November, it shouldn't be taken forward, the MoF quoted FM Dr. Mahat in a statement.

"The contract must be awarded within mid-November. The government has not been able to make payment against some obligations that have been created. The bill given by the contractor of the project should come to the MoF within one month," he said while adding that the MoF will review the bill and approve within 15 days.

According to him, there wouldn't be any expenses in the last month of the fiscal year (mid-June to mid-July. If the work is done and the liability has been created, the payment should be made at the earliest.

But in the current as well as previous years, a large chunk of the development budget – as much as 25 per cent of the total allocation – has been mobilised in the final month. For example, Rs. 82 billion (more than 20 per cent) of the capital expenditure is made in the month of Ashadh. Yet, a large due of the contractors is still to be paid.

"The contractors also have problems, we should not ignore them. Obligations that are included in the budget should be paid on priority basis. If there is no budget title but the obligation has been created, respective ministry should make their own considerations," said Dr. Mahat.

His statement has come at the time when the contractors across the country have announced protest programmes demanding the government pay the remaining liabilities to them which is in tens of billions of rupees, amend the recent government order to extend the deadline of the projects that have been delayed, and termination of sick and stalled projects.

Meanwhile, FM Dr. Mahat maintained that the line ministries should understand that they need to work with limited resources in the midst of larger needs. "We cannot give as much budget as you want. There is a huge gap between our needs and resources," he said while instructing the secretaries not to take forward the projects that don't have resource assurance.

He said that no one should shy away from their responsibility, because doing so wouldn't bear any results. "There is no problem-free area, but efforts are being made to improve the situation.  We have given site clearance for development project a top priority," said Dr. Mahat.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 27 July 2023.   

Aakarshan sends migrant workers abroad at zero cost

 Kathmandu, July 28: 

Aakarshan International Pvt. Ltd. has facilitated the employment of 1,875 Nepali migrant workers in Malaysia at zero cost – by adopting the fair recruitment process without incurring any expenses. 

Those workers include 1,654 men and 221 women, informed Bishnu KC, Chairman of the company. 

Established 18 years ago, Aakarshan International has been sending Nepali citizens interested in foreign employment, especially to Malaysia, at zero cost.

Since 2015, the Government of Nepal has adopted the policy of 'free visa free ticket' system for foreign employment in Malaysia and Qatar. But the company has been sending all the workers abroad at zero cost. According to KC, it has submitted a memorandum letter informing about its activities of sending workers at zero cost to the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Department of Foreign Employment, Foreign Employment Board and Nepali embassies abroad.

"Our company believes that the workers should be able to go abroad in a free and transparent manner. We would like to inform you that we are paying all the expenses incurred by the workers when they go abroad, such as visa, ticket, medical, insurance, welfare fund, social security fund, etc., as well as the car rental, food, accommodation management and passport application fees for the process from the interview to the flight," KC said in an interaction with journalists on Wednesday. 

He said that the workers' rights and safety was ensured before sending them abroad for employment. 

When marketing to Malaysia for foreign employment, the company works with the internationally recognised organisations such as the International Labour Organisation, Responsible Business Alliance, International Recruitment Integrity System and Supplier Ethical Data Exchange. 

The company has expressed its commitment to providing the data and details of the workers sent by it to Malaysia at zero cost to the concerned government agencies. 

Stating that since the company has benefitted a large number of Nepali workers, their benefits and state coffers, it should be facilitated and promoted with capacity enhancement support, motivational programmes by the government organisations. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 28 July 2023.   

MWFJ demands to pay full salary to journalists

 Kathmandu, July 27

The Minimum Wage Fixation Committee said on Thursday that its serious attention has been drawn to the illegal dismissal, transfer, and promotion of working journalists, employees and workers in various media institutions.

According to its president, Sangita Khadka, the committee has received various compliant regarding the unfair treatment to the working journalists and media persons.

It has received complaints against various media companies including Kantipur Publication regarding breach of the contract, expelling and transferring the journalists and employees without the service facility prescribed by the law.

The Working Journalists Act, and Regulations as well as other legal instruments have made clear arrangements regarding the service facilities of the journalists, employees and workers working in communication institutions, and the rights and duties of the workers and management.

"It is sad that such complaints regarding the violation of labour rights come from the field of journalism, which is considered as the fourth estate," read a statement issued by the committee.

"This committee would like to seriously draw attention of communication institutions for the implementation of the prevailing legal system. If their attention is not drawn to this matter, the committee would like to warn that that it will recommended to cut the service facilities provided by the government to the respective media houses that do not comply with the laws," it said. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 28 July 2023.   

NCC requests for operation of Nepal-Pak direct flights

 Kathmandu, July 26: 

Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) has requested the Ambassador of Pakistan, Abrar Hussain Hashmi, for the operation of direct air service between Nepal and Pakistan. 

In a meeting organised to welcome the newly appointed Pakistani envoy at its secretariat on Tuesday, the NCC said that direct air connectivity is necessary to facilitate trade and tourism activities between the two countries.

Nepal and Pakistan both are members of the South Asian Association of Regional Corporation (SAARC), the regional mechanism which has become a hostage of India-Pakistan rivalry for the last one decade or so. 

President of the NCC, Rajendra Malla, stated that air services should be put into operation immediately for the growth of trade between the two countries, tourism exchange and expansion of other economic and commercial activities.

He urged Ambassador Hashmi to take initiatives at the government level to operate air services and to cooperate in the private sector as well. "Air distance between Nepal and Pakistan is only three hours. 

If it can be utilised, trade between the two countries can be increased and tourism can be expanded. As SAARC member countries, both countries can benefit by increasing many other economic activities," said Malla. 

According to him, the NCC and Pakistan Chamber of Commerce are ready for high-level meetings as there is a possibility of business cooperation in many fields. 

Through the cooperation between the private sector organisations, there is great potential for both countries to benefit by increasing joint investment in air service operations and small and medium enterprises.

Currently, Nepal is importing medicines, processed leather products, machinery goods, shoes, slippers and other goods from Pakistan while it is exporting honey, coffee, tea, handicrafts, cardamom, eye lenses, and yarn. An average of 4,000 tourists from Pakistan visit Nepal every year.

Pakistani Ambassador to Nepal Hashmi said that there should be an initiative at the government level for the operation of air services. 

He stressed the need for identifying areas of economic potential between Nepal and Pakistan to benefit both countries. 

"For this, priority areas should be identified. I will take the initiative to expand business activities by conducting discussions between the officials of the chamber of commerce of the two countries," said Hashmi. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 July 2023.   

Contractors announce protest programmes

Kathmandu, July 23

The Federation of Contractors' Association of Nepal (FCAN) has announced protest programmes demanding the payments of the remaining dues by the government, uniformly extending the deadline of all projects, and adjusting the project costs by addressing the excessive price-hike seen recently.

Reiterating many demands that it has been putting forth for the last many months at a press conference organised at its secretariat in the Capital on Sunday, the FCAN said that it would submit a memorandum with an ultimatum to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda and development ministries on Monday.

On Tuesday, it would submit the memorandum to the chief ministers of seven provinces and district administration offices of 77 districts and update the political parties, federal government agencies, provincial parties and government offices and district-level offices about their demands from July 26 to July 30.

After informing their demands to all political and government stakeholders, the FCAN said that it would launch sit-in protest at the Public Procurement Monitoring Office (PPMO), offices of chief ministers of all provinces and in front of the Prime Minister's Office. The protest programmes would be intensified from August 1 until the government addresses their demands, said Roshan Dahal, General Secretary of the organisation.

Rabi Singh, President of the FCAN, said that the government has yet to pay billions of rupees against the construction of projects including water supply, health facilities, bridges, roads, Mid-Hill Highway, river control projects, railway projects, urban development programmes, Terai strategic roads, provincial projects and many others.

The FCAN said that the delay in payment has created challenges for the construction entrepreneurs in repaying their bank loan and government taxes. It has disturbed the entire supply chain, said Dahal.

He also demanded that the government should cease to punish the construction and related entrepreneurs in case of bouncing of the cheques issued by them and blacklist them if they failed to make payments to other businesses.

The contractors also demanded to scrap the provision to conduct public construction through the consumers committees and finish the sick projects by ending the contract and clearing payments.  

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 July 2023.   

All should contribute to country's economic development: VP Yadav

 Kathmandu, July 23

Vice-President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav has said that all should contribute to country's economic development and prosperity by attracting investment in the potential areas like hydroelectricity, and tourism.

Honorary consuls should play an important role in maintaning better relations with the friendly countries and attract investment as well as tourists, he said while addressing the 16^th Annual General Meeting and Charter Day of Honorary Consular Corps - Nepal (HCC-N) in the Capital on Sunday.

He also urged the NCC-N to play a proactive role in garnering support for the mitigation of climate change impacts.

"Representing 59 countries that have diplomatic relations with Nepal but do not have resident embassies, the support and contribution of this organization to strengthen the economic, commercial and cultural relations between those countries and Nepal is commendable," Vice President Yadav said.

He expressed confidence that the HCC-N will continue to strengthen the diplomatic relations by enhancing the reputation of Nepal and enhancing the closeness between the people of Nepal and the friendly countries that appoint them.

Vice President Yadav said that this organization should also focus on taking initiatives with related countries to minimize the problems created due to climate change in Nepal. According to him, it is necessary for Nepal, which is leading the journey of economic prosperity, to maintain harmonious and peaceful relations with all the countries with which friendly relations have been established.

Speaking at the programme, NP Saud, Minister for Foreign Affairs, said that honorary consuls fill up the diplomatic gap between the two countries in terms of communication and bilateral exchanges. He expressed his commitment to extend required support to the honorary consuls and consul generals.

FM Saud appreciated the efforts of the honorary consuls during the disasters like earthquake in 2015 and Covid-19 pandemic for conducting rescue and relief efforts.

"We need more investment both domestic and foreign to expand production, job creation and facilitate economic growth. HCC-N can play an instrumental role in this regard," he said.

Out-going Dean of the HCC-N, Dinesh Shrestha, Honorary Consul of Malta, said that honorary consul generals and honorary consuls worked tirelessly to strengthen the relationship between sending countries and Nepal, fostering economic and social ties at the grass root level through trade and tourism.

"Our collective efforts have contributed to the growth of bilateral relationships and exploration of new opportunities in investment and collaboration," he said.

Likewise, newly appointed Dean of the organisation, Vishnu Kumar Agrawal, who is the Honorary Consul General of Czech Republic, said that he would further explore the opportunities to enhance the trade and investment ties with the friendly countries.

Fifty-nine countries have appointed honorary consuls and consular generals to represent them in Nepal. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 July 2023.   

PM off to Italy for food summit

 Kathmandu, July 23: 

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda left for Italy on Saturday evening to participate in the United Nations Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2) which is slated for 24 to 26 July in Rome.

The programme will be hosted by Italy, in collaboration with the Rome-based UN Agencies (FAO, IFAD, WFP), the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub and the wider UN system.

He is accompanied by his daughter Ganga Dahal, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development, Dr. Beduram Bhusal, Member of National Planning Commission Dr. Jay Kant Raut, and other senior members of the government. 

The Prime Minister is scheduled to address the official opening session of UNFSS+2 on Monday, July 24, in capacity of the Chair of LDC Group, including the Plenary Sessions on the agenda of School Meals on the same day and Food System Transformation in Practice on July 25. Nepal is the current chair of the LDC Group, the Global Coordination Bureau of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). 

Likewise, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), on the sidelines of the event, Prime Minister Prachanda will hold bilateral meetings with high level dignitaries of the UN system, including the Director General of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), and the President of International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), among others.

The Prime Minister will also interact with the Nepali community in Italy over a programme being organised by the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) there. 

He is also scheduled to meet the prime minister and leaders while in Rome. He will return to Nepal on July 28. 

According to the organisers, the UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment will build on the momentum of the 2021 Food Systems Summit and will 

create a conducive space for countries to review progress on the commitments to action and identify successes, enduring bottlenecks and priorities in order to close the implementation gap by effectively and efficiently utilising the Means of Implementation for food systems transformation. 

It will also be an opportunity to further socialise the powerful role of sustainable, equitable, healthy and resilient food systems as critical SDG accelerators and advocate for urgent action at scale, building on the latest evidence that sustainable food systems contribute to better and more sustainable outcomes for people, planet and prosperity leaving no one behind.

The organisers said in a statement that the high-level meeting will serve as the first global follow-up to the 2021 Food Systems Summit, where more than 50,000 people, including 77 Heads of State and Government, from 193 countries, committed to accelerate and deepen the transformative power of food systems, for the full realization of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Italy hosted the Pre-Food Systems Summit in Rome in July 2021, an inclusive substantial preparatory event that gathered leaders and numerous stakeholders. The three-day meeting will further highlight the central role of food systems transformations in overall SDG advancement ahead of the Sustainable Development Goals Summit in September 2023. 

It will also be a conducive space for countries to share stories of success and early signs of transformation and maintain the momentum for bold acceleration and bold action to further the resilience of food systems.

Meanwhile, DPM and Minister for Defence, Purna Bahadur Khadka is assigned with the responsibility for the duties of the Prime Minister during the absence of PM Prachanda.

President Ramchandra Paudel has assigned the duties to DPM Khadka at the recommendation of PM Prachanda, the Office of the President said in a statement on Saturday. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 23 July 2023.