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The government has set aside Rs 31 billion for the expansion of East-West Highway. Presenting the annual budget for the fiscal year 2023/24 in a joint meeting of the federal Parliament today, Finance MinisterPrakash Sharan Mahat said that the expansion and upgrading of Narayangarh-Butwal and Kamala-Kanchanpur road sections would be completed within the coming fiscal year. Similarly, upgrading of Kamala-Dhalkebar-Pathalaiya, Butwal-Gorusinge, Kakadvitta-Laukahi, Pathalaiya-Narayangadh and Lamahi-Bhalubang road sections would be started. Signature bridges would be constructed over the Narayani river and Tinau river, he added. The finance minister said that Rs 31.02 billion has been allocated for expansion and upgrading of East-West Highway. The government would focus its investment in easy, safe, quality and sustainable transport infrastructures to facilitate citizen's lives and to prepare the basis of economic development, he said.

The education sector is to receive Rs 1 billion more budget in the upcoming fiscal year as compared to the current fiscal year. Presenting the budget for the fiscal year 2023/ 24, Finance Minister Prakash Saran Mahat announced that the government has allocated Rs 197.29 billion for the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. In the current fiscal year, the budget for this sector is Rs 196.38 billion. The government has announced to make education with life-skills, modern technical and research-based while early childhood development programs would be further managed and student's retention would be run as a campaign. Likewise, the skills learned at home and abroad will be tested and certified and the new medical college would be established in Lumbini and Sudurpaschim Provinces, Minister Mahat said. Furthermore, sanitary pads would be distributed for free to one million girls. Similarly, junk food is prohibited and local products would be promoted in the day meal for the students and Rs 8.45 billion has been allocated for this program. Minister Mahat said that Rs 3.02 billion has been allocated for the distribution of school textbooks prior to the beginning of the fiscal year. As announced in the budget, the Federal Education Act will be brought and the Tribhuvan University will be developed as a research center. Likewise, the University Grants Commission would be restructured. The basic-level teachers would be adjusted in the vacant posts of the upper level and the local levels would be encouraged to appoint headmasters on the basis of free competition. Furthermore, Finance Minister Minister Mahat said that Gurukul, Madrasa, Gumba education would be mainstreamed and the curriculum of the brail script and sign language would be formulated. The minister announced that graduates of all subjects can now sit for teaching licenses and legal grounds would be prepared accordingly.  

The government has increased the budget of the Ministry of Health and Population by Rs 14 billion. Finance Minister Prakash Saran Mahat today said that Rs 83.99 billion has been allocated to the Ministry of Health and Population while presenting the annual budget for the fiscal year 2023/24 in the federal Parliament. A budget of Rs 69.38 billion was allocated for the Ministry of Health and Population in the current fiscal year. Of which, Rs 6.26 billion was transferred to the province and Rs 27.44 billion to the local level. Finance Minister Mahat said that the budget for the health sector has been increased with the aim of making the health sector reliable and accessible at the local level.

The government has allocated Rs 157.73 billion for social security programs including for senior citizen allowance. Presenting the annual budget for the coming fiscal year 2023/24 in a joint meeting of the federal Parliament today, Finance Minister Prakash Saran Mahat said a budget of more than Rs 230 billion as compared to current fiscal year has been allocated under this heading. The government has given continuity to Rs 4,000 monthly allowance being provided to senior citizens above 68 years. Similarly, budget has been allocated for social security allowance being provided to Dalit, single woman, poor and marginalized community, who have completed 60 years. A total of Rs 134 billion was allocated for social security, medicine and financial assistance in the current fiscal year. Minister Mahat said the government prepared the budget for fiscal year 2023/24 with the slogan of second-phase economic reforms and structural change in economy.