The government's policies and programs for the next fiscal year 2023/24 have been presented in the Federal Parliament.
President Ram Chandra Paudel read out the policies and programs in the joint meeting of both the houses of the Federal Parliament in the Federal Parliament Building, Naya Baneshwor. The meeting started at 4 pm.
At the outset of the meeting, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' handed over a copy of the policies and programs to the President.
As per the constitutional provision, the President addresses either a meeting of any House or a joint sitting of both Houses of the Federal Parliament, and summon the MPs.
This is the first address to the parliament after Paudel's election to the post of the President.
In the countries having parliamentary democracy, there is a practice of presenting the government's annual policies and programmes in the Federal Parliament and the parliament passing the same after deliberations on them.
Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav , Prime Minister Dahal, Acting Chief Justice Hari Krishna Karki have arrived at the Parliament Building to witness the presentation of the government's policies and programs.
National Assembly Chair Ganesh Prasad Timilsina was also alongside Speaker Devraj Ghimire who chaired the joint session.
Leaders of political parties, heads and representatives of constitutional bodies, high-ranking government officials, heads of the Nepal-based diplomatic missions and distinguished persons from various walks of life were present in the parliament.
Before this, the Speaker, the National Assembly Chair, the Deputy Speaker and the Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs had welcomed the President to the Parliament Building. A contingent of the Nepali Army offered a guard of honour to the President on the occasion.
The President reached the Parliament Building in a cavalcade.
The House of Representatives and the National Assembly held their separate meetings today itself after the joint sitting was over. The Prime Minister tabled a copy of the President's address to the joint sitting in the separate meetings as well.
Both Houses of the Federal Parliament will deliberate on the government's policies and programs for some days beginning Sunday. The Prime Minister will reply to the queries raised by lawmakers in course of the deliberations.
There is a constitutional provision which requires the Finance Minister to present in the House the annual budget for the next fiscal year on May 29 (the 15th of Jestha) every year after the policies and programs are passed by the parliament.
