NPC takes suggestions for 16th plan from parliamentary committee chairs, leaders

KATHMANDU: National Planning Commission (NPC) held a meeting on Sunday to gather suggestions for the 16th periodic plan from various party leaders representing the House of Representatives (HoR). 

A draft proposal prepared by the NPC for the 16th plan was shared in the meeting, led by NPC Vice-Chairman Min Bahadur Shrestha. 

Nepali Congress's HoR member and former finance minister Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, CPN (Maoist Centre)'s HoR member and former finance minister Janardan Sharma, main opposition CPN (UML)'s chief whip and former minister Padam Giri, UML whip Mahesh Bartaula, Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP)'s HoR member Sobita Gautam, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP)'s lawmaker Gyanendra Shahi were present at the meeting.

The lawmakers suggested including achievable goals in the 16th plan. All NPC members and secretaries attended the discussion.

The meeting started with a presentation on the five-year plan by NPC Joint Secretary Mahesh Bhattarai. 

The HoR members participating in the meeting opined that while striving to build a self-reliant economy, it is essential to address biological and social diversity. They particularly highlighted the importance of sectors such as agriculture, forestry, cement, iron-related industries, and construction.

Earlier, NPC member Jay Kant Raut had conducted a suggestion session with the chairpersons of the HoR parliamentary committee, as informed by Royal Acharya, the press advisor of the NPC. The committee chairpersons emphasised the need for a realistic and implementable plan that promotes a socialist-oriented economy and prosperity.