Hriti Foundation, in partnership with the Sub-national Governance Program (SNGP), organized a Post-Budget Consultation Meeting in Birendranagar, Surkhet, on 2 September 2026 to discuss the findings of Province Government’s Fiscal Year 2082/83 Budget Review Report and identify practical measures to improve budget implementation and public financial management in Karnali Province.
The meeting brought together Hon. Tek Raj Pachhai, Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning (MoEAP), Karnali Province; Hon. Bindaman Bista, Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee and former Finance Minister; and Provincial Assembly Members Ranasingh Pariyar, Devendra Bahadur Shahi, Tulsa Malla, and Urmila Bishwakarma. Senior government officials, representatives of the Provincial Planning Commission, private sector and FNCCI, academics, civil society organizations, students, and youths also participated.
Minister Tek Raj Pachhai highlighted effective budget implementation as a key priority of the provincial government. He emphasized judicious use of available resources, strengthening the project bank, expanding the revenue base rather than simply increasing tax rates, greater citizen participation in budget formulation, and timely completion of budgetary procedures.
Public Accounts Committee Chairperson Hon. Bindaman Bista emphasized that budget implementation challenges are closely linked to weaknesses in planning and project selection. He called for improvements to the project bank, stronger coordination with local governments, and a sound legal framework for budget allocation to address implementation problems from the formulation stage.
Provincial Assembly members and other participants discussed the need to improve capital expenditure, reduce year-end spending, strengthen sector-wise planning, promote private-sector investment, improve institutional capacity, and ensure more effective and equitable use of provincial resources.
Hriti Foundation Executive Director Dinesh Gautam presented the key findings and recommendations of the Budget Review Report, followed by an open discussion among policymakers and stakeholders.
The consultation was organized under Hriti Foundation’s ‘Shine Karnali: Strengthening Governance in the Economic Sector’ project, supported by SNGP.
