- Monday, 8 June 2026
Kathmandu, June 7: At least 10,000 charging stations need to be built across the country to further promote electric vehicles (EVs). A study report on ‘Opportunities, Challenges and Prospects for EV Promotion in Nepal’ conducted by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development has recommended setting up at least 10,000 charging stations by 2030.
Currently, a total of 1,000 charging stations are in operation across the country, with most of the stations being operated by official dealers of electric vehicles in the country.
Most of the stations are concentrated in major urban areas including Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Bharatpur.
The erstwhile Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport had formed a task force to recommend measures to promote electric vehicles in the country. The task force was coordinated by Joint Secretary of the ministry, Krishnaraj Pantha. It has among others identified charging infrastructure, battery cost, road infrastructure, battery reuse and disposal as challenges.
Similarly, lack of skilled human resource, limited private sector participation, lack of skills development, and dependence on import of vehicle spare parts, high initial cost and low resale value, quality of vehicles, lack of qualified drivers, and inability to use electric vehicles as large vehicles and cargo vehicles have been identified as challenges.
Investment in electric transport-friendly physical infrastructure, private investment incentives, charging stations and battery swapping (modern and fast technology for charging electric vehicles) policies, challenges of battery life and management, research and development of technology, and lack of formulation of standards have also been considered as challenges.
According to the Report, insufficient charging facility on highways, rural areas and villages has caused problems in using electric vehicles as public transport and managing long-distance travel.
The government has adopted a policy to promote electric vehicles with the aim of increasing domestic consumption of hydropower. It has also set a goal to promote electric vehicles in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
Meanwhile, the Nepal Electricity Authority is operating 62 fast chargers with a capacity of 142 kilowatts.
The ‘Energy Consumption Growth and Export Strategy, 2083’ prepared by the Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Ministry mentions expanding the network of charging stations across the country. The target is to complete this work by the fiscal year 2085/86.
The Ministry of Energy has designated the NEA as the responsible body for this task. The ministry also aims to develop domestic electricity consumption capacity by operating electric buses and trolley buses in major cities.
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23- Govt denies reports of scrapping Sunday as public holiday
Kathmandu, June 7: The government has clarified that reports claiming it is preparing to cancel Sunday as a public holiday are utterly false.
The clarification comes after several media outlets reported that the government is considering revoking the two-day weekend system (Saturday and Sunday) that is currently in place across the country for some months now.
Speaking on the matter, Deepa Dahal, Press and Research Adviser to the Prime Minister, stated that the reports are inaccurate. “The government has not made any decision regarding the cancellation of Sunday as a holiday, nor is there any preparation underway on this issue at present,” Dahal clarified.
The incumbent government introduced the two-day weekend following a cabinet decision on April 22.
The step was taken as an austerity measure in the wake of the West Asia conflict leading to rising fuel prices and broader economic pressures.
Under the decision, Saturday and Sunday were designated as public holidays across public offices and educational institutions while government office hours were adjusted to run from 9 am to 5 pm.
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24- Langtang Trail Run concludes
Rasuwa, June 7: The Second Edition of the Langtang Trail Run concluded here today. The competition organized by Rasuwa-Nuwakot Tourism Society was held from Kyanjin Monastery to Syaphrubensi in the district.
The organizer said that 106 athletes from different countries took part in the competition.
Under the women’s category, Anjali Gurung stood first, while Surakshya Tamang and Austria’s Anna Lena Fruitner emerged second and third, respectively.
Likewise, Milan Kulung, Dhir Bahadur Budha and Bishal Rai emerged the first, second and third, respectively under the men’s category.
The organizers said that the tournament was organized for the publicity of the Langtang region in the world stage and promote tourism in the region.
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25- Foreign Minister Khanal returns home
Kathmandu, June 7: Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal returned home today after completing a three-day official visit to India. He had left for New Delhi on Friday at the friendly invitation of Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar.
During the visit, Minister Khanal held delegation-level bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart on Saturday. Matters related to development cooperation, expansion of connectivity, trade and transit, energy and further enhancing people-to-people relations were discussed during the meeting.
While in New Delhi, Foreign Minister Khanal had separate meetings with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Bharatiya Janata Party’s Foreign Department Chief Dr Vijay Chauthaiwale.
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26- Mayor leads rally calling for speedy completion of cable car construction
Taplejung, June 7: A goodwill rally was taken out today demanding the speedy completion of the under-construction cable car project. The cable car links to the renowned Pathibhara temple.
Phungling Municipality Mayor Amir Maden, Pathibhara Temple Area Conservation and Promotion Committee Chair Taranath Ghimire, senior civil society leader Karna Limbu, GenZ leader Karan Gurung, Mina Gurung, youth leader Padamchenji Mabo, addressed the participants of the rally held under the banner of ‘Vikaspremi Yuva Samaj’ in the district headquarters of Phungling.
Local residents, representatives of various organizations, and others participated in the rally.
The participants in the rally demanded that the construction work be continued, saying that the construction of the cable car would make a significant contribution to the promotion of tourism in Taplejung. After touring the Phungling market, the rally turned into a corner meeting at Birendra Chowk.
Addressing the meeting, the stakeholders pointed out the need for the government to create the necessary environment for the construction work. They said that it would not be appropriate to postpone the project when it is almost 60 percent complete and called for a favourable environment for the speedy completion of the construction.
Meanwhile, there has been opposition to the construction of the cable car. The Mukkumlung Joint Struggle Committee has been demanding the abolition of the cable car project.
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27- RSP to host an all-party meeting
Kathmandu, June 7: Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane has called an all-party meeting to discuss contemporary political issues.
The meeting is scheduled to take place at 9:00 am on Monday at the Public Accounts Committee hall under the Federal Parliament Secretariat in Singha Durbar, shared RSP General Secretary Kabindra Burlakoti.
Two representatives each, including the party chairperson, have been invited to the meeting from the political parties represented in the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. General Secretary Burlakoti informed that the request for attendance along with the information of the all-party meeting has been sent to all the political parties represented in the House of Representatives and the National Assembly.
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28- Election campaign finance declines compared to past elections
Kathmandu, June 7: The election campaign finance of political parties and candidates has increased in the recent elections thought the cost of government for election management has declined.
A review report stated that the Election Commission conducted the House of Representatives (HoR) on March 5 in a comparatively low cost. The review report stated that per voter cost was reduced in the March 5 elections.
According to the review report, per voter cost was stood at Rs 264 in the latest elections. The EC officials stated that Rs 450 was spent per voter in the elections of the House of Representatives (HoR) and provincial assembly conducted in 2022.
Spokesperson of EC Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said that the EC spent slightly more than Rs 4.96 billion in the recent election.
The EC had sought Rs 7.81 billion for the recent HoR elections but the Finance Ministry had allocated only Rs 6.71 billion.
The total number of voters in the recent HoR elections was 18,903,689.Under the first-past-the-post electoral system, 11,168,032 voters used their sovereign franchise and the valid vote was 94.55 percent.
Similarly, 11,280,817 voters cast their votes under the proportional electoral system with 96.05 percent of valid vote.
In an average of the both electoral system, 4.7 percent votes were invalid, which was low in the percentage point of the invalid votes compared to the past elections.
EC Spokesperson Bhattarai said that the EC used ballot boxes from its past stock and used the remaining papers of the past for ballot papers printing while purchased the election-related materials through G2G model with other state-owned agencies to make the HoR elections cost effective.
The EC got its ballot papers printed from Janak Education Material Centre Limited, Sajha Prakashan and bought other materials from the Food Management and Trading Company Limited.
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29- Foreign Minister stresses on solution through bilateral mechanisms
Kathmandu, June 7: Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has said that a solution to border and other matters of concern between Nepal and India will be found through talks and diplomatic mechanisms.
Speaking to media persons at Tribhuvan International Airport after returning home today upon completion of a three-day official visit to India, he said that the diplomatic mechanism formed between the two countries is working to find a solution to the border and other issues of concern.
Asked about the Lipulekh, Limpiyadhura and Kalapani areas, Foreign Minister Khanal reiterated the historical stance that the land belongs to Nepal and stated that it has been officially clarified to India and China through diplomatic notes.
Stating that the Nepal government has not sought the need for a third party or mediation to resolve the border issue with India, he said that the government is of the view that a solution will be found through talks based on facts and historical evidence.
Asked about the Nepal-India Eminent Persons Group (EPG) report, Foreign Minister Khanal clarified that the report was prepared by a group formed with the consent of the Prime Ministers of the two countries and that the report can be submitted only to the two Prime Ministers.
Foreign Minister Khanal had left for New Delhi on Friday for a three-day official visit to India at the friendly invitation of Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar. During the visit, Foreign Minister Khanal held delegation-level bilateral talks with his Indian counterpart on Saturday.
“During the talks, issues including development cooperation, expansion of connectivity, trade and transit, energy and further upgrading people-to-people relations were discussed,” he said. Views were also exchanged on regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest.
During the talks, Minister Khanal said that while reviewing the progress of bilateral cooperation in various fields, discussions were held on initiatives taken to increase cooperation in the fields of innovation and startups, digital and financial technology, and training and capacity building. “In the bilateral talks, it has been agreed to further strengthen the multifaceted partnership between Nepal and India and intensify efforts to take it to new heights,” Minister Khanal said.
Minister Khanal also informed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Digital India Bhasini and Kathmandu University to co-build national digital infrastructure for the ‘Voice First’ language translation platform.
Minister Khanal had left for New Delhi on Friday at the friendly invitation of Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar.
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30- Nepalis living illegally in Cambodia told to return home by June 12
Kathmandu, June 7: The Embassy of Nepal in Thailand has asked Nepalis living illegally in Cambodia to return home by June 12.
Issuing a notice today, the Embassy has stated that those Nepalis living in Cambodia without legal status may face stern actions with immediate arrest as per the new legal provisions of Cambodia.
The Embassy has mentioned that a total of 602 Nepalis living in Cambodia without renewing their visa after landing there for different purposes had not responded despite the Embassy’s repeated approaches to facilitate for their repatriation home by waiving off the visa fees and penalty, while asking them to return home without further delay.
The Embassy has also shared that the foreigners failing to return to their countries would be fined up to 500,000 US Dollars and lifelong imprisonment based on the nature of crimes as per the new laws of Cambodia.
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