Former Finance Ministers Call for a Practical and Impactful Budget for FY 2025/26

In a budget consultation organized by the Ministry of Finance, former finance ministers have advised the government to prioritize practicality over populism in the upcoming budget for fiscal year 2025/26. They stressed the importance of bringing a budget that can actually be implemented and delivers results on the ground.

Former Prime Minister and Finance Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai emphasized that the budget should be guided by a clear ideological direction. He noted that the government often tries to take on too much without adequate resources, which leads to inefficiency. Dr. Bhattarai recommended that the roles of the public, private, cooperative, and community sectors be clearly defined.

Former Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat suggested that only a few, well-planned projects should be included in the budget—ones that are achievable and backed by proper classification standards. He also underlined the need to ensure consistency between fiscal and monetary policies.

Barshaman Pun, also a former finance minister, highlighted the need to gradually complete national pride projects and fully use existing infrastructure before announcing new ones. He pointed out the growing importance of information technology and stressed the need for a budget that ensures balanced development across all regions.

Janardan Sharma, another former finance minister, stressed the urgency of reducing the country’s dependence on imports for revenue. Instead, he urged the government to shift its focus toward encouraging domestic production.

Overall, the former ministers urged the government to avoid flashy promises and instead focus on a budget that supports real development through production, employment, health, education, and sustainable infrastructure.