The National Planning Commission (NPC) has advanced the preparation for the 16th five-year periodic plan. With the 15th plan ending in the next fiscal year 2023/24, the NPC, the government’s main body for periodic development planning, has initiated discussions with the concerned stakeholders. NPC held an interaction with its former vice-chairmen, former members, and economists on Wednesday. The body discussed with the ministries related to labor and employment, industry and trade, tourism and civil aviation, and agriculture on Thursday which was participated by incumbent secretaries, former secretaries, and experts of the ministries. NPC has planned to hold discussions on infrastructure and energy sectors on Friday. NPC Vice Chair Min Bahadur Shrestha said discussions for the 16th plan have been initiated with the national aspiration of achieving good governance, prosperity, and social justice through structural transformation. The concept paper of the 16th plan will be ready by the third week of July incorporating the suggestions of the experts. NPC is preparing to finalize and publish the 16th plan by February 2024 in order to take into implementation from mid-July 2024. The 16th plan which will be implemented from FY 2024/25 to 2029/30

The experts participating in Thursday's discussion stressed that the 16th plan should be a national plan rather than a federal plan. According to them, the new five-year periodic plan should be drafted in such a way that it can guide the plans of provinces and local-level governments.

Economists and experts have emphasized that the role of NPC should be strengthened. They have also suggested that the new plan should be made keeping in mind the National Census of 2021, and it (the new plan) should take the policy to increase private sector investments. During Wednesday’s discussion, former finance minister Yubaraj Khatiwada said that ambitious targets for economic growth should not be set for the next periodic plan. Stating that the economic growth target of 7-7.5 percent should be taken in the current situation, Khatiwada said, “If the target of eight percent is to be set, then full emphasis should be placed on exports-oriented industrial growth.” While former NPC Vice Chair Prithvi Raj Legal suggested being more realistic while setting the target of economic growth, another former Vice Chair Dinesh Chandra Devkota opinionated that the plan should be formulated prioritizing the use of technology and preventing the misuse of grant money. According to NPC Spokesperson Suman Dahal, after the concept paper is prepared, the commission plans to discuss and interact at the provincial level as well.