Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Sunday defended the government’s policies and programme for the upcoming fiscal year, saying it was neither repetitive nor outdated, but rather focused on reprioritising all infrastructure projects and reforming the development model.

Responding to queries raised during the discussion on the government’s annual policy and programme at the House of Representatives, Oli stressed that Nepal must shift away from its traditional approach to development, which he characterised as slow-paced and plagued by a “work-in-progress” culture.

“The framework, pace, and culture of development must change. This is a new proposal. Our commitment to implement this in practice is also new,” said Oli. “With limited resources, we must be clear on where to invest and what results to expect.”

He said that under the announced policy, national pride projects would be reviewed, and ongoing projects would be classified and scheduled to be completed by the fiscal year 2025-26, within the term of the current House of Representatives.

He said the government has resolved that initiated projects should not be left incomplete and that completing ongoing work remains a top priority.

Oli said the new policies demand detailed business plans for new infrastructure projects. “Any new infrastructure project must now ensure a business plan that incorporates cash flow, risk mitigation, and legal safeguards to address the concerns of investors and lenders before receiving commitment from concerned agencies,” he said.

On intergovernmental coordination, Oli said that government-led programmes will focus on entrepreneurship development, increased productivity, and job creation. He emphasised collaborative efforts among the federal, provincial, and local governments to promote commercial agriculture and build necessary infrastructure.

The prime minister said plans have been introduced for a new roadmap for the National Education Reform Programme, which aims to make education accessible, high-quality, and life-oriented.

In health, he said the government would connect all public hospitals to an integrated online service system and bring all assistance and subsidy schemes under a unified health insurance programme to ensure sustainability.

President Ramchandra Paudel presented the government’s policies and programmes on May 2. Lawmakers deliberated on the proposed government policies for days.

The prime minister was responding to the queries raised by the lawmakers during the days-long deliberations.

The finance minister will unveil the government’s new budget on May 29 in the federal parliament for the upcoming fiscal year based on the same policies and programmes.