Province 5 has presented its policies and programmes for the current fiscal year with an aim to achieve prosperity through agricultural, tourism and industrial development.

The policies and programmes was presented before the provincial assembly by province chief Umakanta Jha. It aims to prioritise protection and promotion of tourist spots including Gautam Buddha’s birthplace Lumbini and areas such as Tilaurakot, Ramgram, Devdaha, Niklihawa, Kakrahawa and Kudan associated with Lumbini. The policies and programmes also gives importance to developing irrigation system to provide irrigation facilities throughout the year and protect agricultural land.

Industrial corridors will be developed at Neapalgunj, Bhairahawa, Krishnanagar and Koilabas to develop industrial infrastructures in the province.

Following Jha’s presentation of the policies and programmes, Chief Minister Shankar Pokharel proposed it before the assembly for discussion. The discussion on the policies and programmes will continue from Monday.

Nepali Congress chief whip Surendra Hamal said the policies and programmes was brought without prior consultations and could not include all the regions and districts. Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal’s chief whip Santosh Kumar Panday also criticized the policies and programmes saying it was brought in an unilateral manner.