July 3: The National Planning Commission (NPC) has brought a calendar to prepare the 16th five-year periodic plan to be enforced from 2081/82 BS to 2085/86 BS. It has issued a 'work procedure on institutional management for preparation of the 16th periodic plan, 2080'.    
As per the work procedure, activities began from June 4 and they would be concluded with the periodic plan getting endorsed by mid-February 2024. Similarly, the interviews with experts would conclude as part of the preparation of the plan by mid-July this year. The NPC is to endorse the draft of the concept paper of 16th periodic plan by July 23.    
A direction committee has been formed under the coordination of NPC vice chairman while five thematic committees have been formed under the coordination of NPC members.    
The federal planning body of the country is all set to gather thematic information from the concerned ministries by August 24. Overall economic and investment framework will be completed by the end of August.    
The work procedure further states that by upcoming October 8, the National Development Council would be formed and its members handed over the integrated preliminary draft of the 16th periodic plan.    
The NPC said that the 16th five-year periodic plan to be enforced from the beginning of the fiscal year 2081/82 BS would be prepared by taking into account the Constitution of Nepal, national and sectoral policies, 15th periodic plan and its review, LDC Graduation Strategy, achievements of SDGs, and mid-term expenditure framework, among others.    
Currently, discussions with the subject experts are going on.    
The thematic committees formed for the preparation of 16th five-year plan will cover issues such as the overall economic outline and plans, economic sector, infrastructures and environment sector, social sector and institutional development and good governance. -- RSS