Nepal Government Fails to Meet Any Targets and Milestones for FY 2023/24!

The government's efforts to meet its annual targets and milestones for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023/24 have been far from satisfactory, as revealed in the recently published Annual Report of Policy and Main Functions by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM). According to the report, only 42 percent of the planned activities were completed, and a mere 48.5 percent of the milestones were achieved.

Out of a total of 1,600 activities scheduled in the action plans of 27 government agencies, 41.7 percent were completed, while a substantial portion—53.9 percent—remain in progress. However, a concerning 4.4 percent have yet to begin. Similarly, out of the 3,421 milestones set for FY 2023/24, 48.5 percent were completed, 40.5 percent are ongoing, and 11 percent have not yet commenced.

Sector-Wise Breakdown

The report provided a sector-wise breakdown of activities and their progress:

• Economic Sector: Of the 414 activities planned, only 167 were completed, while 229 remain in progress, and 19 are yet to start.
• Infrastructure Sector: Of the 500 activities, 109 were completed, 374 remain in operation, and 17 have yet to begin.
• Governance Reforms: Out of 392 activities, 211 were completed, 154 are still ongoing, and 27 have yet to start.
• Social Sector: A total of 293 activities were planned, out of which 181 were completed, 105 are partially done, and seven are yet to begin.

Overall Performance

Among the 1,600 activities planned, only 668 were completed, 662 remain in progress, and 70 have not started. Likewise, of the 3,421 milestones set, 48.5 percent have been completed, 40.5 percent are still in progress, and 11 percent remain untouched.

The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration stood out as the top-performing agency with an impressive 87 percent completion rate, while the Ministry of Urban Development was the lowest, achieving only 9 percent of its targets. The Public Procurement Office also ranked poorly, completing only 21 percent of its goals, while the Ministry of Finance managed a weak 29 percent.

Reasons for Delay and Non-Completion

The report outlined several reasons behind the failure to meet milestones, including:

• 103 milestones were delayed due to changes in project leadership and lack of human resources.
• 82 milestones faced legal and procedural complications.
• 65 milestones were affected by land acquisition issues.
• 48 milestones were hampered by disputes and legal hurdles.
• 44 milestones were delayed by contractors and consultants.
• 26 milestones were stalled due to the restructuring of plans and programs.
• 14 milestones were affected by disasters and adverse weather.
• Other factors such as problems with the supply of construction materials and miscellaneous reasons further hindered progress.

The dismal progress on government-set targets for FY 2023/24 reflects a concerning pattern of inefficiency and mismanagement within key sectors of the administration. While challenges like legal disputes, land acquisition issues, and adverse weather conditions are unavoidable to some extent, the persistent underperformance of critical ministries—especially the Ministry of Finance and the Public Procurement Office—points to deeper structural issues. The failure to meet nearly half of the milestones suggests that the government lacks adequate oversight, coordination, and accountability mechanisms. If these issues are not addressed promptly, future development projects are likely to face similar setbacks, eroding public trust and stalling national progress. A more proactive approach, with better resource management and leadership stability, is essential to ensure that governmental plans translate into tangible outcomes.