KATHMANDU, AUGUST 10

A work performance pact was signed between Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and ministers of the central government today.

The Cabinet members and the prime minister signed the performance contract related to the implementation of the annual programme for the fiscal 2023-24. It was inked during the review of the annual programme implementation action plan for the fiscal 2022-23 at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.

"The agreement was signed between 21 federal ministries and PM Dahal with the objective of carrying out their respective works on time with high efficiency," stated the Prime Minister's Secretariat.

The performance agreement includes a separate agenda of the work carried out by each ministry. The result indicators, weights, units, overall status of fiscal 2022-23 and target of fiscal 2023-24 have been determined. Similarly, the major tasks that ought to be performed are mentioned in the signed pact. Likewise, the list of programmes and activities and the deadline for completing the given responsibilities are mentioned.

The ministers are also supposed to submit a progress report based on their work execution and progress to the Office of the Prime Minister through online medium. They also have to update their status every month on the basis of which the annual progress report will be prepared.

The duration of the performance contract is one year.

However, it is mentioned in the agreement that if the position of the minister becomes vacant during the term of this agreement, the minister who will take charge, or the newly appointed minister, shall carry out the remaining work as per this agreement.

Meanwhile, PM Dahal has instructed the ministries, secretaries and heads of the department to enhance service delivery in an effective way.

Upon authorisation of the pact between the ministers and the prime minister, he urged them to work diligently and make services easily available, accessible and cost effective.

He stated that no excuse would be entertained if the authorised responsibilities were not fulfilled within a set time frame and that serious action would be taken if carelessness was found.

"The government will reward ministers, secretaries, departmental chiefs and project chiefs if they achieve progress as mentioned in the action plan and take necessary action to change the responsibilities of those failing to achieve progress as per the target," he said. He further said performance would be evaluated on the basis of a monthly report card with the quality of progress achieved on a monthly basis. "Performance agreement has already been signed between the ministers, secretaries and departmental chiefs," he said.

PM Dahal said the government was determined to eradicate corruption from its roots.

"The governance system should be easy, people-friendly and oriented towards social justice and prosperity," he said.

A version of this article appears in the print on August 11, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.