The Lumbini Provincial Government has said that the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/084 will focus on production, employment, infrastructure development, good governance and social justice. Lumbini's Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning Dhanendra Karki, in the second meeting of the eighth session of the Lumbini Provincial Assembly, presented the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill, 2083, informing the Provincial Assembly that a realistic, implementable and result-oriented budget will be brought amid limited resources and increasing liabilities. He said that the effectiveness of capital expenditure will be increased by controlling current expenditure, frugality will be adopted in public expenditure and financial discipline will be maintained. He mentioned that the second periodic plan of the provincial government, sustainable development goals, the socialism-oriented concept of the constitution and the long-term vision of 'Prosperous Lumbini: Happy Citizens' have been made the main basis for budget preparation. Minister Karki also said that the economy will be made dynamic by increasing production and productivity through agriculture, industry, tourism, energy and infrastructure development. ‘Special priority will be given to sectors that contribute to import substitution and export promotion,’ he said in the provincial assembly while presenting the principles and priorities of the budget. ‘The government has taken a policy to create employment within the province by running programs based on youth-targeted skill development, startups, self-employment and innovation.’ He said that service delivery would be made simple, fast, transparent and citizen-friendly by expanding the digital governance system. He also said that the use of digital systems would be increased in revenue administration, public procurement, accounting management and service delivery.

The government has stated that strategic importance and high returns will be the basis for project selection, multi-year and incomplete projects will be prioritized, projects with low progress and less effective programs will be reviewed, and plan selection and implementation will be made systematic through the project bank. The government has taken a policy to expand roads, upgrade and replace risky bridges under the provincial road master plan, and to give high priority to the construction of access roads based on economic, industrial and tourism potential. Minister Karki said that the budget will be focused on modernization of the agricultural sector, organic farming, conservation of indigenous crops, expansion of irrigation, branding of agricultural products and value chain development.

In the health sector, financial support will be continued for hospital upgrading, expansion of specialist services and complex treatments such as cancer, kidney transplantation, heart valve replacement. Programs to reduce malnutrition and promote mental health have also been prioritized. In terms of tourism, the government has put forward a policy to develop Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, as a center for Buddhist philosophy and health tourism. Emphasis will be placed on the protection and promotion of religious, cultural, historical and natural destinations. In the education and sports sector, technical education, information technology-friendly education, development of sports infrastructure and programs to encourage talented players will be launched. Minister Karki said that programs will be launched to empower women, Dalits, indigenous peoples, Tharu, Madhesi, Muslims, people with disabilities and marginalized communities. The campaign to make the province free of human traffickers will also be continued.