Nepal, Feb. 12 -- More than a quarter of the government's budgeted economic programs recorded no progress in the first half of the current fiscal year 2025/26, reflecting sluggish capital spending and weak implementation.

A report on budget implementation unveiled by the Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) shows that 27 percent of programs related to economic sectors remained untouched as of mid-January. Of the 74 budget headings under economic sectors, only nine were fully implemented, while 45 recorded partial progress during the review period.

The situation was similarly weak in energy, infrastructure and urban development. Out of 14 programs initiated in these sectors, only three were fully implemented, eight saw partial prog...