SATV KATHMANDU, JUNE 4

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel has said the fiscal year 2025/26 budget is realistic, not driven by popularity.

Speaking at a discussion hosted by the Economic Media Society of Nepal (EMSON), he said the budget was designed to reflect economic realities and maintain fiscal discipline.

"Though there was an expectation of a populist budget, I have focused on realism over rhetoric," Poudel said. He added that the budget prioritizes resource management, expenditure control, private sector morale, investment growth, production, and employment creation.

Poudel expressed optimism from public feedback and stressed that his main responsibility now is to ensure effective implementation of the budget.