Nepal’s Balen Government Marks 100 Days, Says Cuts Save Billions

Prime Minister Balendra “Balen” Shah’s government marked 100 days in office by announcing it has cut the number of federal ministries from 22 to 18, a move the government says has reduced annual state spending by about 20 billion rupees.

Government spokesperson and Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel presented the achievements at a press conference held Saturday at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. He said the government had made notable policy gains in administrative reform, good governance, corruption control, legal reform, public service delivery and the economy.

Corruption and financial crime probes

A commission formed to investigate the assets of political officeholders and senior officials who served between fiscal years 2062/63 and 2082/83 has collected more than 11,000 asset statements and complaints so far, Pokharel said.

Seven money laundering cases filed against 101 defendants, with claims totaling 118 billion rupees. — Sasmit Pokharel, government spokesperson

The Department of Money Laundering Investigation has filed seven cases naming 101 natural and legal persons as defendants, with claims totaling 118 billion rupees, he said.

Pokharel also claimed the government has shut down more than 200,000 illegal betting websites and domains, and said preparations are underway to bring bank accounts, digital wallets and share investments under an integrated digital asset monitoring system.

Restructuring and spending cuts

Beyond the ministry reduction, Pokharel said 31 government bodies have been scrapped, six departments merged, six bodies transferred and 18 entities placed in the process of restructuring, as part of a drive to eliminate boards, committees and agencies the government described as unnecessary.

A Public Procurement (Second Amendment) Bill has been tabled in parliament to increase competition and transparency in procurement procedures and decisions, he said.

Services and digital reforms

The government has launched a campaign to deliver services such as citizenship certificates, passports and driving licenses to people’s doorsteps, Pokharel said. Citizenship and passport services have been extended through post offices in 75 districts, home delivery of driving licenses has begun, and the government has issued a first-ever quality certification standard for services delivered by local governments, he said.

On digitization, Pokharel said an online pre-enrollment and appointment system has been introduced for passports, online collateral lien and release has been made mandatory for banks and financial institutions, and documents including police clearance certificates and permanent account numbers can now be downloaded through the Nagarik app. Company registration, tax administration, immigration, survey and land revenue services are being brought online in phases, he said.

The government published a 100-point governance reform agenda at its first cabinet meeting on Chaitra 13, 2082, and has committed to treating its first year as the foundation year for governance reform, according to the statement.