The Nepali Congress (NC) has unveiled a five-year roadmap for the country's socio-economic development.
The roadmap presented on the eve of the second phase of the elections to the House of Representatives and State Assemblies has set the target of completing the under-construction projects of national pride and those in the implementation phase within the next five years.
The plan focuses on the widening of the east-west highway to minimum six-lanes, operation of a postal highway within the next three years, import of agro and meat products and cash crops including tea, coffee and ginger, achievement of a double-digit economic growth by the next five years with the investment promotion and implementation of the concept of Special Economic Zone.
Revision of laws to build an investment atmosphere for foreign investors, promotion of hydropower sector, conservation of heritage sites, commercialization of agriculture, proper and productive utilization of remittance and creation of sufficient employment opportunities at home to discourage youths to go abroad in search of jobs are others priorities of the roadmap.
Likewise, the party has proposed to construct the Karnali Highway, mid-hill highway and smart cities adjacent to these highways. It is of the view that the construction of five north-south (China-Nepal-India) fast tracks to promote export of domestic products would contribute to the economic development of the nation.
The roadmap has insisted on the need to come up with the concept of satellite and smart cities so as to prevent the possibility of unsystematic urbanization in inner cities of the Kathmandu Valley during the construction of the outer ring road. The party has pledged its significant role in the acceleration of the construction of Nijgadh, Pokhara and Bhairahawa international airports.
Meanwhile, the party has stated that the liberal and open market economic policy adopted by the NC-led government in the 2048 BS has contributed a lot to the reform in the country's socio-economic field.
