Pokhara, February 8

The National Planning Commission has started collecting suggestions on the concept paper for the upcoming 15th period plan in Gandaki Province.

A two-day province-level consultation and discussion for the purpose started in the province from today at the initiative of the NPC.

The meeting will have participation of provincial ministers and lawmakers, along with local bodies’ chiefs and their deputies to discuss the priorities of development projects prepared by the commission at the centre and the provincial government.

NPC Joint Secretary Bijaya Kumar Shrestha today presented the draft of the concept paper at the meeting. “The upcoming plan will be formed by keeping in view our targets and vision including the commitments to graduate as a developing country by 2022, achieve the development target, become a mid-income country by 2030 and become a prosperous country by 2043,” said Shrestha.

Further, the agenda as to how to increase the per capita income of the country from the present 1004 US dollars to 12,500 dollars by 2043/44 is also expected to feature in the discussion. “We will also discuss matters such as education, health service, social security, justice-based society and the agenda related to public services and consolidating various levels of governments both at the centre and the sub-national levels,” said NPC Vice-chair Pusparaj Kandel.

Gandaki Province has set the target of increasing per capita income to US$1,935 within five years.