Khanel vows budget discipline, speedy reconstruction after Gen Z protests
KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 15
Newly appointed Finance Minister Rameshwor Khanal said up to Rs 100 billion can be raised by cutting politically driven, unprepared, and fragmented projects from the current budget.
Addressing ministry staff after assuming office on Monday, Khanal directed officials to filter programs and reprioritize spending to meet urgent needs such as post-protest reconstruction and the possibility of national elections within six months. He has formed a three-member taskforce, led by the Budget Division chief, to identify and trim low-priority projects.
Highlighting the extensive damage to Singha Durbar during the Gen Z protests, Khanal called for immediate debris removal and repainting of the Finance Ministry's walls. "Let's repaint the blackened walls to show that we have risen from destruction," he said, urging against the purchase of new government vehicles and recommending that obsolete ones be sold instead.
Khanal praised the sacrifices of young protesters and vowed to work without errors, stressing that public funds must not be misused. He instructed staff to avoid using state property for personal purposes and to focus on efficient public spending.
Emphasizing cooperation with the private sector, the minister said economic recovery and revenue growth depend on improving services rather than applying heavy-handed tax collection. He also pledged to implement the recommendations of the High-Level Economic Reform Commission.
(With inputs from RSS)
