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While the budget implementation for the current fiscal year remains worrisome, the Sudurpaschim provincial government has begun preparations for next year’s budget. It has started collecting suggestions from various stakeholders to determine priorities for the upcoming fiscal year.

So far, even the development ministries have spent less than 35 percent of their allocated budgets. Some ministries have utilized only two percent of their capital budgets, while the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure—which accounts for the largest share of capital expenditure—has spent only 24 percent.

Chief Minister Kamal Bahadur Shah said that future plans would be selected based on needs and programs.

The Provincial Policy and Planning Commission organized an interaction program to collect feedback on the priorities for next year’s policies, programs, and budget. Separate discussions have been held with economic and development experts, private sector representatives, industrialists, and businesspeople. The provincial government has prioritized the modernization and commercialization of agriculture.

At the interaction program, the government announced it would focus on nine key sectors: modernization and commercialization of agriculture; tourism development; quality physical infrastructure development (including energy, transportation, communication, housing, drinking water, and irrigation); social development (including education, health, social security, conservation, and employment); industrialization; poverty alleviation; forest and environment-friendly green development including herbal production; institutional strengthening and good governance; and the development of a digital province. The government has adopted the slogan “Self-reliance-oriented, prosperous Far West.”

Experts participating in the discussions suggested that the government prioritize health, education, employment, and religious and cultural tourism sectors in its policies and programs. They also emphasized the need to utilize water resources for income generation, view community forests as an economic asset alongside conservation, and focus on quality, employment-oriented, and technical education for educational reform.

Additional suggestions included promoting research and development, introducing programs targeting young entrepreneurs, providing concessional loans ranging from Rs 1.1m to Rs 2m for youth businesses, and enhancing tourism promotion, especially linking adventure tourism (such as hiking and trekking) with agriculture.

Participants also recommended better tax management, encouragement of small and cottage industries, subsidies for production, price stabilization of agricultural products, the establishment of industrial corridors, and simplifying the firm registration process through a one-stop system.

Speaking at the program, Chief Minister Shah said the suggestions would be incorporated into the upcoming policies and programs. “Investments will be made in concrete and tangible areas according to the province’s capabilities, directly benefiting the people,” he said. He also urged participants to submit their suggestions in writing within ten days.

Discussions also covered the status and implementation of long-term programs, the initiation of the project bank, standardization of project designs and Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), reducing recurrent expenditure, increasing capital expenditure, boosting internal revenue, promoting good governance, encouraging citizen participation, and enhancing the effectiveness of consumer committees. Attention was also given to the need for effective, citizen-focused policies and programs for the coming fiscal year.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 500 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 188, 800 per tola today.  It was traded at Rs 188, 300 per tola on Monday.

Similarly, the silver being traded at Rs 1,970 per tola today.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 14. 58 points to close at 2, 647. 02 points on Monday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 3. 18 points to close at 445. 89 points.

A total of 23,689,071-unit shares of 327 companies were traded for Rs 8. 91 billion.

Meanwhile, Nepal Micro Insurance Company Limited (NMIC) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Saptakoshi Development Bank Ltd (SAPDBL) was the top loser with its price dropped by 8. 93 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 40 trillion.

Revenue collection from land and housing transactions has increased by 13.89 percent to Rs 33.2bn over the first nine months of fiscal year 2024/25.

According to the Department of Land Management and Archive (DoLMA), revenue collection from land and housing transactions in the same period of the previous fiscal year stood at Rs 29.15bn. Capital gains tax (CGT) from such transactions also rose by 17 percent in the nine-month period. That total CGT collections from land and housing transactions from mid-July 2024 to mid-April 2025 remained at Rs 12.8bn, up from Rs 10.32bn collected between mid-July 2023 and mid-April 2024.

An official from the DoLMA said the increase in CGT is due to the rise in land valuation and the revised property assessment rates introduced this fiscal year. A five percent CGT is levied on profits from land sales within five years, while the rate drops to 2.5 percent for sales after that period. Despite the higher revenue, the DoLMA noted that real estate transaction volumes have not improved compared to the previous fiscal year.

Land Revenue Offices collect various taxes, including registration fees, under nearly half a dozen categories from real estate transactions. Among these, capital gains tax is the largest source of revenue after registration fees. According to the DoLMA, land revenue offices across the country have collected an average monthly revenue of Rs 3.68bn this fiscal year. Similarly, the monthly average CGT collection has remained at Rs 1.34bn over the first nine months of 2024/25.

The real estate market, which had been declining since early 2025, saw a sudden surge in Chaitra (mid-March to mid-April). The DoLMA recorded 49,832 transactions nationwide during the month—the highest so far this fiscal year. The first quarter of 2024/25 saw total revenue collections of Rs 10bn from land and housing transactions. While the collection started strong in Shrawan with Rs 3.83bn, it gradually declined to Rs 3.09bn in Bhadra and further to Rs 3.08bn in Ashoj, indicating a slowing trend in real estate activity during the initial months.

The second quarter began with a concerning dip, as revenue plummeted to Rs 2.7bn in Kartik—the lowest monthly collection in the fiscal year. However, the market rebounded strongly in Mangsir with Rs 3.87bn, followed by an even better performance in Poush at Rs 4.25bn. This remarkable recovery pushed the second quarter’s total to Rs 10.82bn. The third quarter maintained this positive momentum, with total revenue of Rs 3.87bn in Magh and climbing to Rs 4.12bn in Falgun. The quarter peaked in Chaitra with Rs 4.39bn–the highest monthly collection recorded so far this fiscal year. This brought the third quarter’s total to Rs 12.38bn.