Kathmandu, June 13

Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai on Wednesday directed the ministers and senior government officials to modify their ‘old thinking’ for bringing about changes in the society.

Addressing a meeting of the National Development Problems Resolving Committee held at Singh Durbar today, Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai blamed the status quo working style of the bureaucracy for less progress in development activities.

"As the permanent government, the bureaucracy should think of national interests instead of appeasing political leaders and parties," Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission Deependra Bahadur Kshetry told The Rising Nepal quoting the Prime Minister as saying.

On the occasion, Premier Dr. Bhattarai also expressed his dissatisfaction over the recent progresses achieved in the national pride projects.

The government has made 63.54 per cent progress. "We have passed the exam. However, it is not encouraging," the PM said, instructing the officials to work hard for escalating development expenditures.

Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai also said that land should be under the ownership of the government and provided to the people on lease.

Down with the repeated problems in acquiring lands for various projects, the PM directed the officials to manage the issues so that they would not recur.

Ministers, secretaries, officials from the National Planning Commission, among others, took part in the meeting.

The meeting discusses on the problems faced by various development projects and suggests appropriate solutions.

The Committee is headed by the Prime Minister.