KATHMANDU, MAY 20 Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle has said that good governance is the government's top priority, stressing that corruption, delays, middlemen and illegal capture of institutions have weakened public trust and increased the state's burden. Responding to lawmakers during discussions on the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill for the upcoming fiscal year at the National Assembly on Tuesday, the Finance Minister said the government has moved ahead with system reforms centred on transparency and accountability. He said measures such as e-governance, digital service delivery, data integration, performance contracts, digital tracking and direct monitoring have been adopted to transform the culture of state governance. Minister Wagle said the government's main objective is to embark on a long-term journey of good governance and that the priorities and principles of the budget have been framed accordingly. Stating that expansion of the middle class should not be limited to benefiting a small group, he said the government aims to improve the economic condition of poor, landless and marginalised communities by increasing citizens' income, skills, productivity and access to opportunities. He also said the upcoming budget would focus on implementation, legal reform, institutional accountability, integrated infrastructure, social investment and multidimensional international relations. Describing the private sector as the driver of economic development, the Finance Minister said the government has prioritised partnership with the private sector in physical infrastructure development.