KASKI, JUNE 24

Chief Minister of Gandaki Province Krishna Chandra Nepali has vowed adequate supply of COVID-19 vaccines in the province.

Addressing a programme, where the annual budget of Pokhara Metropolitan City was released today, CM Pokhrel clarified that adequate budget would be ensured to address the need of anti- COVID vaccine.

He, however said, 'Strong coordination among three layers of government is a must to control and prevent coronavirus. The province government is mulling whether it could procure vaccines from the private sector.'

According to him, the local level, which is the foundation of federalism, should be strengthened and empowered.

'For this to happen, both the federal and province governments have to play a crucial role,' he said.

Furthermore, he said democracy could be consolidated with the institutional development of the local level.

Moreover, CM Nepali viewed that common understanding among all the governments was essential to effectively implement the concurrent powers of three tiers of government.

'Further collaboration and cooperation is needed among the local level and province governments to expedite development works and enhance revenue generation,' he stressed.

He said the province government was expecting cooperation from Pokhara metropolis regarding formulation of plan and policy to control COVID-19 and management of survivors of the natural disasters.

A version of this article appears in the print on June 25 2021, of The Himalayan Times.