Kathmandu, Jan 6 -Finance Minister Janardan Sharma has stressed the need for creating new cities like Kathmandu so as to decentralise development, while arguing that development has been centralised only in the federal capital city. Such cities should be created in rural areas with low population, he viewed. At least three cities like Kathmandu are in need at present, he said while speaking at a meeting of the Investment Board Nepal (IBN) here on Thursday. “A new version of Kathmandu is needed. Another new door of development will open if such cities are created in remote areas.”

He underscored the need for the IBN to launch big projects and invest in industries based on sectoral specialisation as he said there is a need for balanced development in the country. The Finance Minister also directed the IBN to put forward projects like ‘Sagarmatha Plan’, and ‘Rara Plan’ for the development of tourism and prioritise three hydropower projects, Budhigandaki, Upper Arun and Karnali Chisapani.

He directed the concerned authorities to carry out a study to construct Kathmandu-Pokhara-Lumbini fast-track.
Others present on the occasion were Chief Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi, Finance Secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini and Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Arjun Prasad Pokharel.