Kathmandu: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, has placed emphasis on IT infrastructure development while formulating the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. At a programme organized to discuss budget planning for the three-year budget (2082/83-2084/85 BS) with departments and agencies under the Communication Ministry, Minister Gurung drew attention to the need for plans that serve broader objectives.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Minister Gurung claimed that the development of IT has significantly contributed to increasing public revenue. However, he noted the challenges of leveraging technical advancements without robust infrastructure in the IT sector. He urged authorities to devise plans for constructing IT Parks. As the government spokesperson, Minister Gurung emphasized the necessity of government investment to transition Nepal to technology-friendly and e-governance systems, highlighting the construction of data centers as a crucial task.
Minister Gurung also stressed launching a campaign for implementing an integrated office system and using the Nagarik App, urging the allocation of necessary budget for these initiatives. He acknowledged the ministry’s challenge in increasing absorbing capacity and called for employees to perform honestly and fearlessly for effective results.
Communications Secretary, Radhika Aryal, urged the formulation of a pro-people budget with innovative plans, emphasizing the need for government agencies to approve budgets by Asar 15 (June 28). During the occasion, chiefs of departments and agencies briefed on their respective budget plans.
Executive Chairperson of the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), Dharmendra Jha, highlighted the necessity for government agencies to subscribe to RSS news products to promote the agency’s self-reliance. He urged the government to increase budget allocation for RSS to expand its museum and plural language services, noting that additional government grants are essential to provide free news services to small-scale media through RSS.
Dr. Mahendra Bista, Chairperson of the Public Service Broadcasting, Nepal, emphasized the need for employee management and the construction of physical and technical infrastructure to enhance PSB’s efficiency. Similarly, General Manager of the Gorkhapatra Corporation, Lal Bahadur Airee, stressed the need for sufficient budgetary allocation for constructing a new building for Gorkhapatra Corporation and digitalizing its services.
Director General of the Department of Information and Broadcasting, Pradip Pariyar, mentioned that ten schemes lacking tangible results have been removed from the budget plan.