Newly appointed Finance Minister Rameshwor Khanal officially assumed office after taking the oath of office and secrecy before President Ramchandra Paudel at Sheetal Niwas. Khanal, a former Finance Secretary, was appointed on Sunday evening at the recommendation of interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki.
Soon after assuming office, Minister Khanal formed a three-member taskforce led by the chief of the Budget Division at the ministry to prioritize projects for effective budget implementation.
He announced that projects not included in the budget or lacking adequate preparation will not be implemented. Similarly, small-scale projects with insignificant value will also be scrapped. “Now, we are burdened with holding elections and addressing the demands of youths. So, unnecessary budget will be slashed,” he stated.
Khanal further emphasized that the government will also take into account the recommendations of the high-level economic reform commission while shaping its economic policies.