Government spends only 18% of budget in first three months: where is the rest?

The government has used less than one-fifth of its total budget in the first quarter of the current fiscal year 2082/83.

According to the Office of the Financial Comptroller General, by the end of Ashoj, only Rs 364.58 billion had been spent, which is 18.56% of the total annual budget.

The total budget for this fiscal year is Rs 1.964 trillion. Out of this amount, spending under the current expenditure category has reached 21.75%, or about Rs 256.80 billion. This includes regular government expenses such as salaries, operations, and services.

Where was the budget money spent?

Out of the total allocation, spending under the current expenditure category reached 21.75%, equal to about Rs 256.80 billion.

Meanwhile, capital expenditure, money meant for development projects, remained very low at only 4.7%, or roughly Rs 19.18 billion.

The financial management category saw a relatively higher spending rate of 23.61%, amounting to Rs 88.60 billion.

Government revenue collection is also behind schedule. By the end of Ashoj, only 16.51% of the annual target had been collected. The government had aimed to collect Rs 1.533 trillion in revenue this year, but so far it has received only Rs 253.18 billion.

Out of the total, Rs 1.480 trillion was expected to come from internal sources. However, only 16.83% of that target has been met, amounting to Rs 249.05 billion.

Foreign aid has also been lower than expected. The government aimed to receive Rs 53.44 billion in foreign grants, but only Rs 2.72 billion, or 3.76% of the target, has been received so far.

Overall, both government spending and revenue collection are moving slowly. If this trend continues, the government may face pressure to speed up development projects and improve revenue collection in the coming months.