Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun on Tuesday said the government is committed to completing the Millennium Challenge Corporation projects within the deadline.

In a meeting with Jonathan Brooks, deputy vice president of the MCC for Europe, Asia, Pacific, and Latin America, at the finance ministry, Minister Pun said the ministry would cooperate and coordinate to ensure the timely completion of the projects.

“The government is committed to the timely completion of the project, and this commitment will continue,” said Minister Pun.

He assured that the Millennium Challenge Accounts-Nepal would resolve issues, including land compensation.

Deputy Vice President Brooks briefed the minister on the progress made in constructing transmission lines and roads under the project.

Brooks said the progress so far has been satisfactory, according to Minister Pun’s secretariat.

The compact entered into force on August 30 last year, and the projects should be completed within five years from that date. However, doubts have been raised about whether meeting the project deadline would be possible.

Nepal’s Parliament ratified the much-debated MCC compact in February 2022, following an agreement in 2017 between the government and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. The MCC Compact signing opened the way for the United States to invest $500 million in Nepal’s power and transport infrastructure. The government of Nepal, on its part, contributes $197 million in support of the compact.