By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Feb. 5: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba Friday said that the Nepali Army has a significant role to play in the country's infrastructure development and security arrangements.
Addressing a meeting of the second quarter progress review of the Ministry of Defence and its units under the Ministry for the fiscal year 2078/79 BS and the ministerial level development problem solving committee meeting on Friday, Prime Minister Deuba said that development works could not be carried out smoothly without reliable security arrangements.

PM Deuba, who is also handling the portfolio of Defence Minister, said that the government was working to strengthen the overall national security system by effectively implementing the national security policy and national defence policy.

Lauding the NA for constructing various national road corridors including the Kathmandu-Terai-Madhes Expressway, which is of strategic importance in the economic development of the country, Prime Minister Deuba expressed confidence that the construction of other development projects entrusted to the national army would complete in time.

He said, “Citizens expect the Nepali Army to complete the project in time. In order to work accordingly, the government will provide necessary resources for the construction of these projects.”
In the meeting, Vice-chairman of National Planning Commission Dr. Biswo Nath Poudel, said that there should be harmony between financial and material progress in the projects undertaken by the Nepali Army.
Chief Secretary Shankar Das Bairagi, said that the contribution made by the Nepail Army in border security and development was important.

Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Kiran Raj Sharma said that the expected assistance was being received from all the agencies for the necessary coordination, assistance and facilitation to complete the programmes and projects under the ministry on time.

Chief of the Army Staff (CoAS) General Prabhu Ram Sharma said that the Nepali Army was achieving success in important projects due to the support and coordination of all stakeholders.
The meeting reviewed the progress made in the second quarter of the current fiscal year by the Ministry of Defence, Nepali Army, Secretariat of the National Security Council, National Defence University, Infrastructure Development Committee and other agencies.

In the second quarter, the Ministry of Defence and its agencies achieved 53 per cent financial progress under current expenditure heading, 14 per cent in capital expenditure and 16 per cent of physical progress.