KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Balendra Shah held discussions with chief ministers of five provinces on Thursday.

During the meeting held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Shah took stock of various issues being faced by the provincial governments.

According to Bagmati Chief Minister Indra Bahadur Baniya, discussions were held on ensuring equitable distribution of resources and addressing various administrative and financial problems faced by the provinces, among other issues. He said the meeting also focused on coordination, cooperation, and coexistence among the three tiers of government.

Baniya added that he informed Prime Minister Shah about the gradual decline in grants allocated to provinces compared to previous years and how a lack of funds is affecting implementation of provincial pride projects. “The Prime Minister patiently listened to our concerns,” he added.

Similarly, Karnali Province Chief Minister Yam Lal Kadel said he briefed the prime minister on the overall situation of the province. “We told the Prime Minister that some recent circulars issued by the federal government were not in line with constitutional provisions. Issues related to development and administrative challenges were also raised during the discussion,” he added.

Chief ministers of Koshi and Sudurpashchim did not participate in the meeting due to personal reasons.

The Prime Minister’s Secretariat said the meeting was aimed at building a common understanding on the country’s current economic situation, infrastructure development, improving service delivery, and ensuring good governance.