KATHMANDU, April 1: Prime Minister Balendra Shah has stepped up efforts to reform the country’s bureaucracy, urging lawmakers across party lines to back changes aimed at aligning the administrative system with the government’s pace and priorities.
The appeal came during a meeting at Singha Durbar on Tuesday with lawmakers elected from various districts of Sudurpashchim, where discussions centered on development bottlenecks and regional challenges.
During the meeting, CPN-UML lawmaker Ganesh Thagunna, a House of Representatives member from Darchula and former Minister for Federal Affairs and General Administration, highlighted the urgency of administrative reform. He cautioned that the existing bureaucracy may struggle to deliver results in line with the government’s expectations.
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“I drew the prime minister’s attention to the fact that the current bureaucracy may not produce results in line with the government’s pace,” Thagunna said. “In response, the prime minister expressed hope for support from NC, UML, and NCP to bring reforms. My point was that the system needs improvement, and the prime minister has taken it positively.”
Another UML lawmaker, Ain Bahadur Mahar, said he urged the government to steer clear of political bias or vendetta while carrying out its work.
Lawmakers present at the meeting said Prime Minister Shah assured them that the government would take steps to address development challenges in Sudurpashchim Province. The meeting is part of his broader initiative to hold province-wise consultations with elected representatives to better understand ground realities.
Discussions focused on key development projects, including the Seti Hydropower Project, the Kailali–Dipayal road, and the Seti Highway, along with road upgrades, irrigation, education, healthcare improvements, and the expansion of air services.
Thagunna said the Mahakali Corridor and the Darchula–Tinker road also received serious attention, with calls for the government to prioritize these projects.
The prime minister asked lawmakers to formally submit the issues raised to the secretariat for follow-up. Of the 16 directly elected lawmakers from Sudurpashchim Province, 14 attended the meeting, while Deepak Bohara and Bharat Shah were absent.
Prime Minister Shah had held similar discussions on Monday with lawmakers representing Koshi and Karnali provinces, signaling a broader push to ground policy decisions in local realities.
