KATHMANDU, May 31: Finance Minister Dr Swarnim Wagle has claimed that the upcoming fiscal year’s budget includes “extraordinary measures” aimed at breaking a decades-old perception that Nepal’s budgets are poorly implemented.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Ministry of Finance on Sunday, Wagle said efforts have been made to address what he described as a 40-year-long narrative that budget execution remains weak.
He said that structural changes were introduced, including amendments to the appropriation bill, allowing implementation work to begin from May 30, which he argued would improve spending efficiency.
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Wagle, who presented a Rs 2.12 trillion budget for the fiscal year 2026/27 on May 29, said capital expenditure has historically remained low, with ministries often unable to spend allocated funds effectively.
“Capital expenditure has been only around 19–20 percent even by the end of Chaitra (mid-April),” he said. “We have instructed ministries to ensure better utilization of funds.”
He said that ministries, particularly those handling infrastructure, had previously shown low spending despite holding large allocations.
According to him, the new arrangements ensure that no ministry can claim procedural delays for underperformance in budget execution.
