Kathmandu, April 10 Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today sought the private sector’s support in development of rural areas, as he stressed on the need to modernise and commercialise various sectors. “Rural areas have been lagging behind in terms of housing facilities, basic amenities and job creation. This must change,” PM Oli told the inaugural session of the 50th annual general meeting of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), the largest private sector umbrella body. Oli said since a large portion of rural population was dependent on agriculture, the government as well as the private sector should think of ways to modernise and commercialise agriculture sector so that jobs could be created. This process, the PM added, would put the country on the path of sustained development. “The country’s sole focus should now be on economic development, as the constitution, which was recently promulgated, has already addressed many other demands of citizens,” PM Oli said, adding, “The private sector has played a key role in country’s modernisation and industrialisation process. The government is willing to extend every support to the private sector to promote overall economic development as well.” Calling the private sector an engine of growth, the Premier urged the private sector to conduct all legitimate activities freely and assured full government support to private firms operating in the country. “The government fully supports the private sector and is willing to address all its legitimate demands. So, it should work freely,” Oli said. PM Oli made the remark after FNCCI President Pashupati Murarka, while delivering his welcome address, criticised the government for failing to create an enabling environment for the private sector to conduct businesses. “Economic policies undergo changes as soon as a new government comes to power. This stalls the growth process,” Murarka said. “To ensure policy stability, all political parties must pledge to give continuity to a policy for at least 10 to 15 years. In this regard, political parties must frame a common minimum economic agenda.” Lack of political coordination, according to Murarka, has also delayed construction of critical physical infrastructure, such as Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track, regional and international airports and big hydropower projects. “Such political differences are, on the one hand, withholding investment and, on the other, raising unemployment rate in the country. To tackle the problem of growing unemployment, we must raise investment to 40 per cent of the gross domestic product.... The government can rope in the private sector on this front by expressing commitment to develop infrastructure projects under the Public Private Partnership model,” Murarka added.