Despite substantial government support in the form of loans, subsidies, and extensive investments, the financial health of Public Enterprises remains precarious. Over the last five years, loss-making public enterprises have witnessed an astonishing 6361.5% increase in losses reaching Rs 41.48 billion in 2021/22, while profit-making companies have experienced a 2.4% decrease in profits even as their numbers expand reaching Rs 43 billion in the same year.

The establishment of public enterprises, both on a global scale and within the unique context of Nepal, has been a pivotal chapter in the annals of economic development. In the post-World War II era, a surge of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) emerged worldwide, driven by a myriad of motivations and expectations to address market failure.