- Tuesday, 26 May 2026
Kathmandu, May 26: The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is set to construct a 132-kV underground transmission line in the central Kathmandu in a bid to ensure smooth and reliable electricity distribution within the Ring Road area in Kathmandu district.
According to the proposal, the underground transmission line, stretching approximately 11.92 km in length, will connect Balaju Substation to Singha Durbar via Maharajgunj, the Narayanhiti Palace Museum area and Ratna Park.
The project seeks to support increasing electricity demand while reducing visual pollution caused by overhead power lines thereby enhancing the city’s urban landscape.
The transmission system will feature a double-circuit underground line capable of transmitting up to 350 megawatts of electricity. The proposal outlines that the project would be completed within three years.
The NEA has also rolled out a plan to build several substations along the transmission corridor, including a 132/11 kV substation in Maharajgunj, a 132/11 kV substation in the Narayanhiti Palace Museum and a 132/66/11 kV substation in Singha Durbar.
The NEA has already built an underground transmission line in Ratna Park area and Maharajgunj area while such transmission lines are under construction in various parts of Kathmandu and Lalitpur districts.
An application has already been submitted to the Department of Electricity Development seeking approval for the construction of transmission line and the substations, the proposal informed.
Meanwhile, similar underground transmission line projects in Pokhara and Bharatpur are in the final phase of completion.
However, delays in completing such projects within the stipulated time have prevented authorities from fully achieving their goals of improving urban aesthetics and ensuring efficient electricity supply.
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15– Bagmati Province Government to mark Republic Day for three days
Bagmati, May 26: The Bagmati provincial government is going to celebrate ‘Republic Day 2083’ with various programmes for three days.
The meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Indra Bahadur Baniya, decided to celebrate the Republic Day by organising various programmes from May 27 to 29.
The meeting decided to form a provincial-level Republic Day Main Celebration Committee under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Baniya. The celebration committee includes the Speaker of the Provincial Assembly, all ministers of the provincial government, the leader of the opposition party, the Deputy Speaker, officials of the Provincial Policy and Planning Commission, chiefs of security bodies, and representative members of the Federation of Nepali Journalists. The meeting has decided to celebrate the Republic Day in a grand manner for three days, informed provincial government spokesperson and Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning, Prabhat Tamang.
According to Minister Tamang, a school-level essay competition on the title ’18 years of Establishment of the Republic: Implementation and Challenges’ will be held on May 27; a public blood donation, free health camp and tree plantation programme will be organized on May 28; and a provincial-level main ceremony will be held at the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers’ office premises on May 29 in celebration of the Republic Day.
He added that the meeting has also made a decision to award four outstanding journalists with Rs 50,000 each on the occasion of this year’s Republic Day.
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16- PM Shah reiterates govt’s commitment to real, visible improvements to daily life of citizens
Kathmandu, May 26: Prime Minister Balendra Shah has said that the government is committed to delivering real, visible improvements to daily life of the citizens.
He said so in a joint meeting with the European Union (EU) countries’ ambassadors based in Kathmandu and New Delhi as well as ambassadors of other countries based in Kathmandu. The meeting took place today at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.
PM Shah stated that he fully recognises the urgency of the present moment and the profound responsibility entrusted to him.
“We are meeting today at a historic juncture in Nepal’s political journey. The recent election results have delivered a clear and decisive mandate for good governance and inclusive economic prosperity.
The mandate we have received carries immense hope for our citizens. Our commitment is clear. We are committed to delivering real, visible improvements to daily life of our citizens,” he said on the occasion, according to Deepa Dahal, the Prime Minister’s Press and Research Expert.
Noting that being new does not necessarily mean a complete break from the past, the PM said, “We are fully committed to protecting democratic values and maintaining political stability while ensuring that Nepal’s policy direction remains clear, consistent and predictable.”
The Prime Minister said that at a time when conflicts continue to affect different parts of the world, it is ordinary people who suffer the most, stressing on dialogue, diplomacy and international law should prevail over military confrontation to maintain peace and tranquility.
“Nepal continues to pursue a balanced and pragmatic foreign policy. Our engagement with our neighbors, development partners and friendly countries is guided by the principles of mutual respect, sovereign equality, and shared prosperity. We also hope for an enhanced level of cooperation with the EU member states and all the friendly countries you represent in realizing our national aspiration,” he added.
Stating that the government is committed to good governance and inclusive growth of the country’s economy, he said, “We aim to benefit from global markets to create new opportunities for our people. To attract greater investment, we are streamlining procedures, encouraging innovation, and promoting sustainable development.”
In the joint meeting, the PM also expressed sincere appreciation to all our development partners and friends for their steadfast goodwill and support toward Nepal’s development and prosperity.
“We are eager to deepen our partnership across key sectors, including trade, investment, green energy, climate action and tourism.
We deeply value our engagement with each of the friendly countries you represent and look forward to working together in the days ahead. Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs will remain in close contact with all of you.
Excellencies, thank you once again for your presence today and for your enduring goodwill toward Nepal. I wish you a memorable stay in Kathmandu and a highly successful tenure,” the PM said on the occasion.
At the meeting, the ambassadors of the European Union nations based in Kathmandu and New Delhi, as well as other ambassadors in Kathmandu, praised Nepal for peacefully conducting the elections.
They also congratulated Prime Minister Shah on reaching the helm of leadership of the new government with a mandate for good governance, economic development and prosperity.
The ambassadors and heads of missions stated that they are ready to collaborate with and promote investments in Nepal in various sectors for its economic growth and prosperity.
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17- Global Gathering of Pastoralist Women commences
Patan (Lalitpur), May 26: Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment Geeta Chaudhary has said that the Global Gathering of Pastoralist Women will serve as an opportunity to further strengthen collective commitments towards increasing recognition for the rights and dignity of women herders and livestock keepers.
During her address to the event held at Khumaltar of Lalitpur here today, the Minister expressed her hope that the event would prove a powerful platform for strengthening the rights of women pastoralists. The Global Gathering is organized by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) with technical assistance of the United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
The conference has been a means of amplifying the voices of the pastoralist women, bringing their concerns to the global attention.
Each discussion to be held during the gathering be centered on the issues concerning women, men and children are spending their days for caring of livestock in rural and geographically sensitive areas, according to the Minister.
Pastoralism is not just concerned with livelihood, it is also deeply interconnected with the food supply chain, biological diversity conservation, ecological conservation, cultural heritages and local economy. However, voices the women in pastoralism still lack representation at the decision-making levels, she added.
Their issues including the shrinking grazing areas are ours collective issues connected to the livelihood, she said, underlining the need for further amplifying the voices of women engage in production and livestock keeping.
“The gathering is timely, relevant and of high significance. Voices of pastoralist women be heard, the future of upcoming generation be secured. This is also a vital forum for learning and the experience sharing. Our each voice be centered on those women and men in the rural and backward geography,” she said.
Livestock keepers in Nepal have significantly contributed to the local to national economy, sustainable food system and the preservation of cultural traditions through yak and sheep keeping and from other livestock activities. “Issues and challenges faced by pastoralist women are global.”
The Minister also assured participants that the concerns of pastoralist women would be incorporated into national planning and development agendas through policy-level interventions.
She also took time to say that incumbent government with an encouraging participation of energetic youths and women is active for building a durable future for all.
International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists-IYRP 2026’s Co-Chair Dr Maria Fernandez-Gimenez expressed her hope that the gathering would successfully issue a Global Declaration, establishing a global network among pastoralist women.
“This gathering is expected to encourage pastoralist women to further unite for their rights, changing prevailing narratives and perspectives towards pastoralism,” she said.
United Nations FAO residential representative in Nepal, Dr Ken Shimiju expressed the hope that the gathering would contribute to capacity enhancement and leadership development of pastoralist women, helping shape gender-responsive policies for their better future.
National Planning Commission’s Vice Chair Dr Gunakar Bhatta was of the view that the event would be successful in creating a pressure for incorporating the experiences, struggles, perspectives, and priorities of pastoralist into the decision making processes and policy formulations from local and international levels.
The gathering, which will continue until Friday, is primarily reviewing documents prepared by a similar gathering of pastoralist women held in India in 2010.
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18- NA Vice-Chair Bhandari and Xizang Vice-Chair Peng meet
Kathmandu, May 26: A courtesy meeting has been held between the National Assembly Vice-Chairperson Leela Kumari Bhandari and Zhao Peng, Vice-Chairperson of the Xizang Autonomous Region of China, today.
In the meeting held at Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, the two sides discussed a wide range of issues relating to Nepal-China relations, according to the Secretariat of Vice-Chair Bhandari.
Views were also exchanged on further enhancing cooperation between the two countries in the areas of trade, tourism, agriculture, energy and inter-parliamentary cooperation, added the Secretariat.
During the meeting, Vice-Chair Bhandari highlighted the longstanding friendship between Nepal and China which, she said, was based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence (Panchasheel) and mutual respect for each other’s sensitivities.
Reiterating Nepal’s firm commitment to the ‘One-China policy’ of China, she reaffirmed that Nepal would not allow any activities against China’s interests in its territory.
Discussing cooperation with Xizang Autonomous Region, Bhandari expressed satisfaction over progress in trade, tourism, agriculture and energy sectors.
She noted that trade between Nepal and Xizang currently accounts for nearly one-third of total Nepal-China trade.
In the first six months of 2025, bilateral trade reached 2.19 billion yuan, marking a 22.1 percent increase compared to the previous year, mentioned the Vice-Chairperson.
Vice-Chair Bhandari also apprised that the 13th meeting of the Nepal-Xizang Economic and Trade Facilitation Committee was successfully held in Lhasa in June 2025 while, she added, preparations are underway to host the 14th meeting in Kathmandu later this year.
She also expressed her happiness over establishment of a sister-city relationship between Dhulikhel Municipality and Ali Prefecture of Xizang.
On inter-parliamentary cooperation, Bhandari described that the 6-point memorandum of understanding signed in 2022 between Nepal’s House of Representatives and China’s National People’s Congress as a significant milestone.
She also disclosed that plans to form a Nepal-China Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Federal Parliament here.
The Vice-Chair also articulated her optimism that Xizang’s achievements in infrastructure development, economic growth and public welfare would create further economic opportunities for Nepal.
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19- Nepal–Norway Bilateral Consultation Mechanism reviews entire gamut of bilateral ties
Kathmandu, May 26: The second meeting of the Nepal–Norway Bilateral Consultation Mechanism (BCM) has reviewed the entire gamut of Nepal-Norway relations.
In the meeting held here on May 25, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further enhance cooperation and strengthen bilateral ties, according to a press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
On the occasion, the Nepali side appreciated the Norwegian Government for their continued support to Nepal’s development endeavours.
The Nepali side provided an overview of the country’s current political landscape and the new government’s priorities focused on good governance, anti-corruption and efficient service delivery. Nepali side also shared that growth in key sectors including hydropower, tourism, and information technology are major economic goals of the government.
On development cooperation, discussions centered on collaborating in areas of basic and primary education, renewable energy and climate resilience, it is stated.
The Norwegian side reaffirmed its commitment to remain a consistent partner in Nepal’s sustainable development efforts.
The two sides also explored avenues of cooperation in the green economy, including in the area of clean energy transition and electric mobility, in which both countries have demonstrated notable progress.
The Nepali side requested the Norwegian side for their engagement in hydropower generation and transmission networks.
Deliberations were made on regional and global issues of common concern, including matters related to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, and joint contributions to global peace and stability.
Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism and a rules-based international order.
Joint Secretary and Head of Europe Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Nepal Ganesh Prasad Dhakal and Director General of the Department for Regional Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway Ms Signe Brudeset led the respective delegations.
Nepali delegation included officials from the Europe Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the sectoral Ministries, while the Norwegian delegation included Norwegian Ambassador to Nepal Dagny Mjøs and other officials from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Embassy in Kathmandu.
Following the meeting, Head of Nepali Delegation Dhakal hosted a dinner in honour of the Head of the Norwegian Delegation Ms Brudeset and the accompanying delegates.
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20- Yonggi Poudel clinches YTTM Table Tennis Championship
Kathmandu, May 26: Nepal’s Yonggi Poudel has won the title of the YTTM Table Tennis Championship held in South Korea under the international training camp.
Poudel’s performance in the matches held under-19 in Inchon from Jeth 2-12 (May 16-26) was adjudged the best, said All Nepal Table Tennis Association’s treasurer Jackie Maharjan.
Upon her achievement, Poudel was awarded by Yang Yong, the gold medalist in 1998 from the South Korea, Maharjan said. She received a cash price of Rs 15,000 and sports materials. Likewise, a Nepali squad comprising Rijan Shakya, Reevan Muni Bajracharya, Prajna Maharjan and Suramya Shakya won the first position in the event, thus winning a cash price and sports materials.
The players also visited the National Training Centre in the Republic of Korea. On the occasion, they got an opportunity to meet with various national-level sportspeople there and to exchange experiences.
Various trainee players from Nepal, Philippines, Laos and Magnolia participated in the event.
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21- Appropriation Bill tabled at Gandaki Province Assembly
Gandaki, May 26: The Gandaki province government has presented the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill for the upcoming fiscal year 2083/84 BS.
In today’s meeting, Minister for Economic Affairs, Jeet Bahadur Sherchan presented the principles and priorities of the Appropriation Bill, 2083.
The appropriation bill has laid emphasis on spurring production and productivity, generating employment opportunities and delivering innovation, tech-savvy and startup projects in a way to contribute to alleviate poverty.
It is stated that among the priorities laid out in the bill include commercialization, mechanization and marketization of agriculture sector through targeted programme focusing on marginalized, backward and minorities groups.
Likewise, the government has set a goal to advance the concepts ‘One Municipality, One Destination’, ‘Adarsha Gram’ and ‘Ujyalo Gandaki Pradesh’.
The principles and priorities of the bill will be discussed in the province assembly meeting to be held on Wednesday.
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22- Expedite arrears recovery and audit soon, says Comms Minister
Kathmandu, May 26: Minister for Information and Communications Dr Bikram Timilsina has directed the government-run media agencies to complete the annual audit as soon as possible and to expedite the process of recovering long-overdue arrears.
During a discussion held with the heads of the agencies at the ministry today, Communications Minister Dr Timilsina directed them to prioritize the pending work of audit and arrears management.
According to information shared at the meeting, the audit work of Gorkhapatra Corporation and Public Service Broadcasting Nepal has not yet been completed since the fiscal year 2079/80. Expressing concern over it, Minister Timilsina directed the heads of the concerned agencies to immediately proceed with the stalled audit and complete it within the stipulated time.
He said that delay in auditing weakens institutional transparency, raises questions about economic activities, and affects trust in public institutions.
The Communications Minister also directed the head of agencies to formulate a clear action plan for the recovery of outstanding payments, initiate legal proceedings if necessary, and conduct regular monitoring.
As informed during the discussion, about Rs 350 million of the Public Service Broadcasting Corporation, about Rs 410 million of the Gorkhapatra Corporation, and about Rs 10 million of the are yet to be recovered. The amount is yet to be recovered from various government bodies, advertising agencies, advertiser organizations, and service users.
Dr Timilsina also emphasized the need to develop a system to ensure timely payment by forging a contract with service recipients and making advertisement publication, and broadcasting processes digital and transparent.
Similarly, he pointed out the need for government media organizations to strengthen their credibility and financial base amid market competition, the expansion of digital media, and the influence of private media.
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23- Prime Minister will respond to MPs questions in house soon: Speaker Aryal
Kathmandu, May 26: Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dol Prasad Aryal, has said that Prime Minister Balendra Shah is preparing to come to the House soon.
After opposition parties continuously demanded Prime Minister Shah’s presence and his response to their questions, Speaker Aryal said during an informal conversation he was informed that Prime Minister Shah is preparing to come to the House. Aryal also said that he would fix the date for Prime Minister Shah’s presence and response after receiving a formal letter from the government.
Speaker Aryal also urged opposition lawmakers not to obstruct the House as there is a lot of work left in the lawmaking process.
Earlier in the meeting, Chief Whip of the ruling Rastriya Swatantra Party, Kabindra Burlakoti, had informed the house that Prime Minister Shah would come to the House within a week.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives meeting resumed and entered the regular agenda amid protests from opposition parties. The meeting, which was adjourned for 15 minutes, resumed after about an hour.
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24- ‘Chemical fertilizers to be distributed on scientific bases’
Kathmandu, May 26: The Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Environment is set to distribute chemical fertilizers to farmers on scientific ground.
The Ministry is distributing fertilizers based on the ratio of their cultivable land area and production in order not to allow shortage of chemical fertilizers.
As reported, there is a stock of around 145,000 metric tons of chemical fertilizers. A total of 4,585 metric tons was being imported via surface route.
In view of paddy plantation, a process has been initiated to swiftly import additional 40,000 metric tons of fertilizers, including urea and DAP, Information Officer at the Ministry, Lalkumar Shrestha said.
While selling fertilizer to farmers, scientific distribution system will be adopted through depots, he added.
Farmers have been urged to purchase fertilizers only from official depots to facilitate supply and make distribution arrangement effective, as fertilizer is stocked in various depots of the Krishi Samagri Sansthan and Salt Trading Corporation.
The government aims to bring 600,000 metric tons of fertilizers in the current fiscal year, for which over Rs 28.82 billion has been allocated, Shrestha informed.
The ministry has stated that so far 491,300 metric tons of chemical fertilizers remain in stock in the current fiscal year.
The price of fertilizers has increased due to the rise in production costs of chemical fertilizers in the international market.
The government has announced that it will take action against traders found dealing in substandard or adulterated fertilizers and black marketing, according to prevailing laws.
The ministry has instructed that fertilizers should be purchased only after quality testing from official depots.
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25- Bagmati PA meeting: Discussion on principles and priorities concludes
Makawanpur, May 26: Discussion on the principles and priorities (excluding tax proposals) of the appropriation bill for the coming fiscal year 2083/84 has concluded in Bagmati Province Assembly today.
Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning, Prabhat Tamang, had presented the proposal seeking discussion on the bill in the province assembly meeting held on Monday.
Taking part in the discussion on the bill, around 45 PA members suggested that the government should play a balanced role while making budget as well as set a goal to empower people’s representatives of local levels.
Responding to queries raised by the PA members, Minister Tamang shared that the government has a policy of making budget for coming year balanced, transparent as well as implementing economic package to eliminate poverty.
He mentioned that the PA members’ suggestions would be incorporated in coming budget, adding budget and plan would be distributed for physical infrastructure development in a proportional manner as per the geographical territory and people’s desire of the districts of the province keeping agriculture production and religious tourism development in top priority.
Similarly, Deputy-Speaker of Bagmai PA, Apsara Chapagain, stated that Bagmati Province Chief Dipak Prasad Devkota on the behalf of Bagmai province government would unveil government’s policies and programmes for coming fiscal year 2083/84 BS in the second PA meeting of today itself.
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26- RSS journalist Singh Awarded
Mahendranagar, May 26: The Federation of Nepali Journalists Kanchanpur branch has honoured RSS journalist Sher Bahadur Singh with the ‘Effective Journalism Award-2083’.
At the 22nd annual general meeting of the branch, Minister for Internal Affairs and Law of Sudurpaschim Province, Hira Sarki, highly appreciated the contribution made to society by journalist Singh, working for the , through people-oriented journalism.
At the inauguration ceremony of the program, Minister Sarki, emphasized that the media should make governments at all levels aware and alert through journalism.
The program was chaired by Suresh Singh Dhami, President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists Kanchanpur branch.
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27- ‘MOFA MITRA’ mobile app launched for online consular service
Kathmandu, May 26: Minister for Foreign Affairs Shishir Khanal has urged Nepalis abroad to avail consular services through the ‘MOFA Mitra’ mobile app.
Launching the mobile app developed by the Department of Consular Services here today, he expressed confidence that the app would be effective in making public services more convenient and citizen-friendly.
The application enables Nepali citizens abroad and their families to register their consular related concerns and grievances online, receive timely updates on their requests, track the status of their requests and communicate directly with the Nepali Missions concerned for the effective resolution of their issues. The app is now available on both platforms: Android and iOS, says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Foreign Minister Khanal also expressed the commitment to continue expanding the service, which was launched with the aim of increasing access to services through technology.
On the occasion, Director General of the department, Durapada Sapkota, said that the app will be used to protect the rights and interests of Nepalis living abroad and to seek assistance in times of difficulty. She also that the app will be easy for matters such as corpse management, compensation, insurance claims, etc.
Information Technology Officer of the department, Nabin Kumar Jha, said that the mobile app has been launched targeting Nepali citizens living abroad. He said that services including inquiries, rescue, complaints, corpse management can be availed from this.
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28- Limbu language enforced as official working language
Fikkal (Ilam), May 26: Mangsebung rural municipality in Ilam has enforced the ‘Limbu language’ as an official working language from Tuesday.
The 66th municipal executive meeting held on 24 April 2026 enforced the ‘Limbu language’ as the official working language.
Mangsebung has implemented the ‘Limbu language’ as an official working language, utilizing the rights granted to local level as per Schedule 8 of the Constitution and Section 11 (f) (1) of the Local Government Operation Act, 2074 BS.
In the presence of Province Chief Parshuram Khapung, also the chief guest of the programme, Mangsebung Chairperson Hemant Rai formally declared ‘Limbu language’ as the official language.
Chairperson Rai stated that Mangsebung rural municipality having majority of ‘Limbu language’ (written in Kirat Sirijanga script) speaking people has been declared to have Limbu as the language for official works.
According to the National Census 2021 data, Mangsebung with a population of 16,810 has 42.83 percent Limbu and 33.6 percent Rai ethnic groups.
Based on ethnic and linguistic majorities, Mangsebung had declared and enforced ‘Limbu language’ as a working language at ward No. 5 office since 29 November 2018.
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29- Death in police custody: Action recommended against 10 police personnel
Kathmandu, May 26: Action has been recommended against 10 security personnel, including a Superintendent of Police, over the incident of the death of a detainee under police custody of Area Police Office, Khurkot, in Sindhuli.
A probe committee formed under the coordination of Deputy Inspector General Dinesh Kumar Acharya to investigate the case of death of Srikrishna BK, 23, of Sunkoshi rural municipality-3 in Sindhuli, recommended action against them.
According to Central Police News Room, the committee has recommended reprimanding a police personnel, drawing attention of two police personnel, relieving five police personnel from responsibility with warning, counseling one police person and demoting one police person.
The Committee has also made recommendations to work with highest priority for the safety of the lives of persons in custody, while fully implementing the Custody Management Operational Guidelines, 2081 BS.
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30- Election related two bills passed
Kathmandu, May 26: Two bills related to elections have been unanimously passed by the House of Representatives.
In the HoR meeting held on Tuesday, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Sobita Gautam, on the behalf of Prime Minister, Home Minister and Minister for Science, Technology and Innovation, Balendra Shah, presented the proposal seeking endorsement of the bills.
The bills approved by the lower house are ‘House of Representatives Members Election (First Amendment) Bill’, 2083 and ‘ Voter Name List (First Amendment) Bill, 2083.
The bills were presented to replace the ordinances related to election law amendment brought by the then government for the HoR election held on March 5.
Taking part in the clause-wise discussion on ‘HoR Member Election (First Amendment) Bill, 2083, Prem Bahadur Bayek urged the government to further ensure the participation of people with disabilities in the proportional representation electoral system.
The HoR will meet next at 11:00 am tomorrow (Wednesday).
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31- Bagmati Province government’s policy and programs tabled in PA
Makawanpur, May 26: Bagmati Province Chief Deepak Prasad Devkota made public the policy and program of the Bagmati Province government for the fiscal year 2083/84 at the second meeting of the Bagmati Province Assembly today.
The policy and programs made public by Province Chief Devkota states that in the upcoming year good governance will be improved in service delivery with emphasis on production growth, employment creation, social justice, sustainable infrastructure development, environment and human development and environmental protection.
The government’s policy and programs aims to establish good governance, transparency, accountability, public administration as the foundation of the governance system of the province.
It has been mentioned that the province’s public expenditure criteria, project selection criteria, management of multi-year projects and legal provisions related to project bank will be integrated and regular monitoring and regulation of provincial pride projects will be carried out by the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers. Strengthening peace and security, rule of law and civil security in the province will be ensured through enhanced cooperation and collaboration between security agencies and local levels.
Similarly, disaster preparedness will be strengthened for disaster reduction management while poverty alleviation will be promoted as the basis of social justice and prosperity. Similarly, it has been pointed out that the integrated development program of marginalized communities including Chepang, Bote, Majhi, Thami, Jirel, Surel, Pahari, Bankaria will be continued under the Province People’s Housing Program.
Similarly, necessary legal provisions will be made to regulate safe and commercial hemp cultivation as medicine and industrial raw materials in various districts of the province. Similarly, the ‘One House, One Tap’ program will be made more effective by expanding citizens’ access to safe and quality drinking water services. The services provided by the transport office will be made simple, transparent, and service recipient-friendly through an integrated digital system.
The Provincial Assembly will meet again at 1:00 PM on coming June 1.
Earlier, in the Provincial Assembly meeting, Bagmati Province Chief Minister Indra Bahadur Baniya tabled a copy of his Government’s annual policy program for the fiscal year 2083/84.
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32- Koshi government’s policy and programmes passed unanimously
Rastriya Samchar Samiti (RSS)
Biratnagar, May 26: Today’s meeting of Koshi Province Assembly unanimously passed the policies and programmes of Koshi province government for coming fiscal year 2083/84 BS.
Koshi Province Chief Parashu Ram Khapung, on the behalf of Koshi province government, had presented the policies and programmes for coming fiscal year on May 21.
The policies and programmes was passed unanimously after lawmakers from any opposition party did not express their objection to it when Speaker Ambar Bahadur Bista presented it as the decision.
Responding to queries raised by Koshi PA members during the discussion, Chief Minister of the province, Hikmat Kumar Karki shared that the government has wholeheartedly involved itself to maintain good governance and provide quality service.
He mentioned that PA members constructive advise and suggestions provided during discussion would be adopted, adding the policies and programmes has been brought with great effort.
Arguing that although words are repeated in the policies and programmes, programmes have not been repeated, Chief Minister Karki underlined that though it is a constitutional right to bring ordinance it should be brought legally.
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33- ‘Govt to move ahead with private sector friendly policy, operate business with confidence’
Kathmandu, May 26: Prime Minister Balendra Shah’s political adviser and coordinator of the taskforce formed to prepare constitution amendment discussion paper, Asim Shah, has urged the business fraternity to operate their enterprises with full confidence, assuring them that the government is moving ahead with private sector friendly policy.
He said this in course of receiving suggestions from the industry, commerce and private sector on the issues concerning constitution amendment at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Tuesday.
On the occasion, Coordinator Shah shared the government’s awareness that the country’s economic development would not be possible without collaborating with the private sector.
Claiming that the government has not conducted raids targeting any particular businessperson, he clarified legal action is being slapped only against those involved in serious criminal activities and actions harming the State.
“No instructions have been given by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Home Ministry, or any other agency regarding whether someone should be arrested. The system is functioning impartially,” he claimed.
“Entrepreneurs and businesspersons do not have to pay any donation to anyone to run their business. If there is any coercion from party or government officials, inform us. Work confidently and honestly.” Shah added.
He mentioned that the government is preparing a private sector-friendly budget and that the upcoming budget will make the business environment smooth. ‘The government is preparing to reduce cumbersome administrative procedures through a ‘one-stop system, ‘ he noted.
Shah mentioned that policies related to production, investment, industry, and business are being improved and also expressed the notion that the private sector will be involved in every project. The government is preparing to adopt the ‘BOT’ and ‘PPP’ models to increase private sector participation in large projects, he shared.
Shah indicated that programmes for tax exemptions, facilities, and relief could be introduced. However, for this, the private sector must also assist the government.
He clarified that suggestions received from participating industrialists and businessmen in the discussion will be prioritized during the preparation of the discussion paper.
Acknowledge private sector as key economic partner of State – Businesspersons
The participants also presented suggestions for constitutional amendments and economic reforms.
Their opinion was that the private sector perceived constitutional amendments not merely as a political issue but as an opportunity to implement economic reforms, secure investments, ensure legal clarity, promote good governance, and change the perspective toward the private sector.
They stated the need for economic stability, an investment-friendly environment, legal clarity, good governance, and a respectful approach toward the private sector.
Similarly, they suggested that since the term ‘socialism-oriented system’ in the constitution’s preamble is ambiguous, it should be written as ‘competitive, open, and innovation-oriented market economy.’
They also univocally recommended to grant constitutional recognition to the private sector as the key economic partner of the state.
The business fraternity also demanded removal of hassles of taking permissions from multiple agencies for the operation of projects or business, presenting that the process related to investment approval, land, environment and forest be fast and clear.
The participants in the discussion included representatives from industry, commerce, and the private sector.
Those airing views on the occasion were Divyamani Bhandari, Anjan Shrestha, Arun Chaudhary, Dr. Upendra Mahato, Ravi KC, Shivratna Sharda, Deepak Malhotra, Rajesh Kaji Shrestha, Rajubabu Shrestha, Sureshlal Shrestha, Bijaya Rajbhandari. Anand Bagariya, Pradeep Shrestha, Kush Kumar Joshi, Bhawani Rana, Suraj Vaidya, Shashi Agrawal, Surahit Jyoti, and Prakash Dotel.
Likewise, Shatish Sharma, Sudip Acharya, Dr. Rajendra KC, Yogendra Shakya, Sher Singh Shrestha, Suman Pande, Hemant Golcha, Deepak Dahal, Shankar Ghimire, Cabinet Shrestha, Hemraj Dhakal, Sangeeta Shrestha, Jyotsna Shrestha, Birendra Raj Pande, and Haribhakta Sharma had also provided their recommendations.
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34- ‘Enhancing Regional Integration and Cooperation in South Asia’
Kathmandu, May 26: The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Nepal jointly organized a “Seminar on Enhancing Regional Integration and Cooperation in South Asia,” on Tuesday in Kathmandu.
The seminar brought together policy makers, experts, and relevant stakeholders to engage in discussions on promoting regional integration and cooperation in South Asia. It helped to identify institutional, political, and economic challenges in the process of regional cooperation in South Asia, and share diverse perspectives from participating experts on these issues. The seminar was structured into two distinct parts including a session focused on overview and assessment of regional integration in South Asia and another centered on policy recommendations for expanding regional integration in South Asia including cooperation with middle powers.
The Seminar further examined the roles and potential contributions of external partners, including the Republic of Korea, in supporting the strengthening of regional cooperation in South Asia through trade, investment, and development cooperation.
It may be noted that the Republic of Korea has officially participated as an observer country in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) since 2006. As one of the nine official SAARC Observers, the Republic of Korea actively works with South Asian nations on priority areas defined by the member states, which include energy, connectivity, supply chain logistics and economic cooperation. Korea has continued to pursue practical partnerships by holding seminars with SAARC nations focusing on diversifying supply chains, expanding trade, and integrating transportation infrastructure.
Foreign Secretary, Amrit Bahadur Rai, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nepal, Park Tae-Young and the Director (Economic, Trade and Finance) of SAARC, on the behalf of the Secretary General, delivered remarks at the seminar. Five scholars from NIICE, IIDS, TU, KU and SAARC gave a presentation focusing on different pillars of regional engagement of South Asian cooperation.
Around 100 participants including government officials, diplomatic missions, media personnel, general public attended the seminar that provided a platform for constructive dialogue, bringing together stakeholders to explore practical and forward-looking approaches to strengthening regional cooperation and creating a pathway toward shared prosperity.
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35- Monsoon Disaster preparedness: 26,000 security personnel, including 134 deep divers on standby for search and rescue
Kathmandu, May 26: The government has put 26,219 security personnel including 134 deep divers, on standby for search and rescue following the disasters that may occur during the nearcoming monsoon season that is about to enter Nepal.
According to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority, the human resources prepared by all three security agencies will be mobilized across the country based on the need.
NDRRMA spokesperson Shanti Mahat said all preparations have been based on monsoon disaster preparedness and national response plan. The agencies have been assigned responsibilities accordingly.
A total of 7,524 personnel from the Nepal Army, 10,585 from the Nepal Police, and 8,110 personnel, including 134 deep divers, from the Armed Police Force have been kept on standby for immediate search and rescue.
The NDRRMA has estimated that 226,661 people from 51,868 households will be affected by monsoon-related disasters across the country this year.
Meanwhile, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has estimated that there will be less than average rainfall and more than average heat during this year’s monsoon period, and the number of affected people has been estimated on the same estimate, said spokesperson Mahat.
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