Chief Minister of Province No. 5 Shankar Pokhrel has made public a position paper of socio-economic development before Provincial Assembly.
Releasing the position paper in Thursday's Provincial Assembly meeting, Chief Minister said that 26 per cent of population of province 5 are below the poverty line.
Finding out the basis and challenges of prosperity of the provinces, he expressed the belief that the province could be transformed into a model province after addressing the challenges. The province has 12 districts.
The Chief Minister expressed concern over land fragmentation due to unsystematic land plotting and added that the fertile lands of hilly area are remaining barren.
Putting forth the context that agro products imported from India have been displacing agro products produced in the country due to open border, Chief Minister Pokharel said that lack of management of cooperatives and physical infrastructures has become challenge.
Out of 109 local levels in province no 5 where there are four sub-metropolitan cities, 32 municipalities and 73 rural municipalities.
The province has a population of 4.458 million. Of this, 52.43 per cent are women and 47.57 per cent are men.
As per the position paper, out of 210 billion Gross Domestic Product of province no 5, the agriculture sector has 46.5 per cent contribution. The province stands on first position on lentil and oil seeds production.
Indicators of socio-economic development including education, health, drinking water have been incorporated in the position paper.
