KATHMANDU, Sept 19: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has attributed the ongoing threat of pandemic as the main hindrance to achieve the targeted improvement in the number of economic indicators.
Addressing the function organized at the Army Pavillion to to mark the fifth Constitution Day and the National Day on Saturday, Prime Minister Oli claimed that a number of National Pride Projects including Bhairahawa International Airport, Upper-Tamakoshi hydro-power project and Melamchi’s water project would have already come into operation if there was no COVID-19 pandemic. “Had there not been the Corona pandemic, today there would have been the discussion on the accomplishment of many of the works promised last year,” said Oli.
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Prime Minister Oli expressed satisfaction on the status of most economic indicators except economic growth rate despite a severe disruption in the economic activities caused due to COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the virus. He said that Nepal had made significant improvements in 14 different global indicators including Human Development Index, Doing Business Index, Hunger Index, law and order and rule of law index, tourism competitiveness, gender equality, school education, children and health care.
Prime Minister Oli said that the development works have been given continuity even during the lockdown enforced to contain the spread of the virus. As per the government records, during the lockdown period, a total of 178 km road has been black-topped and 89 motorable bridges were constructed. More than 53,000 private houses destroyed by the earthquakes were also constructed during the same period.
Prime Minister Oli also said the government has been able to maintain smooth supply of daily essentials even during the lockdown period and that helped the government check the inflation rate. Despite the claim made by Prime Minister Oli, the prices of foods and vegetables have skyrocketed recently, hitting hard the lives of ordinary people in Kathmandu Valley and beyond.
