As the Ministry of Finance (MoF) prepares the national budget for the upcoming fiscal year, it is under growing pressure to accommodate small-scale projects pushed by political leaders and local interest groups.
Despite repeated pledges to introduce a realistic and priority-based budget, the government often ends up presenting a populist one. This year, financial constraints have further complicated efforts to launch new development projects.
An MoF official revealed that over the past few weeks, the ministry has seen a steady stream of individuals lobbying for budget allocations. “Members of parliament, top leaders from ruling parties, former ministers, and senior government officials have all been lining up to influence the budget,” the official said.
In an attempt to curb this practice, the National Planning Commission (NPC) has enforced a guideline that bars the inclusion of projects costing less than Rs 30 million in the official project bank. However, political lobbying continues to challenge these efforts, putting additional strain on limited public resources.
