Prime Minister Surya Bahadur Thapa called secretaries to a meeting at his office and directed them to work fore peace and elections which are the challenges facing the government, Radio Nepal said.

He asked the top government officials Wednesday to curb administrative expenditure and increase development expenditure. He also asked them to curb official corruption. The meeting was held one day ahead of the Dashain holidays beginning Thursday on Fulpati.

A nine-day unilateral Maoist cease-fire comes into effect Thursday. Government has ignored the unilateral suspension of hostilities and put security forces on full alert. A World Bank official said Tuesday corruption was endemic and government investments in development had started to increase lately after years of investments in the administrative sector.