Submit your Article

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Bishnu Paudel, who is presently in Washington in the course of attending the annual meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) held a meeting with Vice President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Yingming Yang.

According to the Nepali Embassy here, they discussed the matters related to the present capital of the Bank and future potential collaborations with Nepal on the occasion.

DPM Paudel lauded the ADB's role in advancing construction projects in Nepal.

He also extended gratitude to the ADB for providing a grant of 3 million US Dollar for the survivors of recent floods and landslides.

The Embassy further noted that the ADB Vice President Yang informed Minister Poudel about the structural process of the new partnership strategy of the Bank.

Meanwhile, DPM Paudel also had a meeting with the World Bank Group's Executive Director Wempi Saputra.

Director Saputra had assured enhancing WBG's participation in the development efforts of Nepal.

Also on the same day, DPM Paudel had a meeting with Vice President of International Finance Corporation (IFC), Riccardo Puliti.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Bishnu Poudel who arrived in Washington in the course of attending the annual meetings of the World Bank Group (WBG) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday held a meeting with WBG's Vice President for South Asia Region, Martin Raiser.

According to the Nepali Embassy here, the discussion was focused on generating employment opportunities in Nepal.

Matters related to the improvement of the business environment, implementation of mega infrastructure projects and generation of employment opportunities in Nepal through remittance inflow were discussed on the occasion.

Meanwhile, the WBG has agreed to extend support to Nepal for the post-disaster reconstruction. The agreement to this effect was signed by the Government of Nepal and the World Bank.

Finance Secretary Ram Prasad Ghimire and World Bank's representative for Nepal David Sislen signed the agreement paper.

According to the agreement, the World Bank would provide Nepal with the assistance amounting to USD 150 million.

It was informed in the agreement signing ceremony that the resource would be mobilized for addressing health complications stemming from natural and climate change in Nepal.

The agreement was signed in the presence of DPM and Finance Minister Poudel and World Bank's Vice President for South Asia Region Raiser.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli presented the achievements of his government during the first 100 days in office, highlighting various steps taken to address recent challenges, including natural disasters, economic revitalization and public service improvements.

The four-time PM began his speech by mentioning significant tragedies that occurred during the period, including a missing bus incident and multiple aviation accidents, along with severe floods and landslides from Oct 10 to 13, resulting in more than 7,000 disaster-related incidents. The prime minister said these incidents prompted the government to prioritize rescue and relief operations.

The families of 391 deceased individuals received relief payments of Rs 200,000 each, while 2,555 affected families were given immediate assistance totaling Rs 45m. Additionally, Rs 430m was allocated to 71 local bodies in crisis-hit areas for essential service restoration.

The prime minister assured the public that efforts would be made to reconstruct houses damaged by last year's earthquake while rehabilitating those affected by this year’s floods. He acknowledged the impact of these disasters on government operations but asserted that progress has been steady.

In terms of youth employment, Oli emphasized the distribution of startup loans of up to Rs 2.5m to 165 youths, enabling them to initiate businesses. A total of 5,158 entrepreneurs submitted proposals for start-up loans, with selections planned for disbursement by December.

Oli also announced legal action against over 600 individuals involved in cooperative fraud, with 575 already imprisoned. He outlined plans to draft the Cooperative Authority Act to facilitate the return of depositors' savings, establish a Cooperative Credit Information Center, and create a Loan Recovery Tribunal.

Oli stressed the importance of systemic governance in combating corruption. He noted that corrupt elements were attempting to destabilize the country to protect their interests, but the government remains committed to national integrity without compromise.

Oli also reported signs of economic improvement, attributing increased confidence among entrepreneurs to the formation of key commissions, including the Economic Advisory Commission. To enhance petroleum supply and storage capacity, the prime minister said agreements were finalized to expand pipelines from Siliguri, India, to Charali in Jhapa and from Amlekhgunj to Lothar in Chitwan, alongside the construction of storage facilities.

To improve public service efficiency, Oli said a trial system for tracking files through QR codes was initiated to prevent bureaucratic delays. The Department of Industry implemented an automated system enabling foreign investments up to Rs 500m to receive immediate approval without investors' physical presence. Oli said an online service tracking system is operational in 58 survey offices, and provisions for senior citizens and disabled individuals have been made in 267 land revenue offices.

Prime Minister Oli also announced an increase in compensation for families of deceased foreign workers from Rs 7 lakh to Rs 1m, and stated that families of individuals, who die of associated conditions even after receiving medical treatment, would also receive this amount.

Oli also mentioned ‘concrete steps’ taken for the utilization of newly-built international airports—the Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa and Pokhara Regional International Airport. The government arranged international flights by reducing the price of aviation fuel for Bhairahawa and Pokhara to attract flights. Starting Nov 10, the prime minister said flights from Dubai to Bhairahawa and from Kathmandu to Bhairahawa will commence, with Fly Dubai operating daily flights and Jazeera Airways approved for direct flights three days a week between Bhairahawa and Kuwait.

Prime Minister Oli mentioned what he called ‘significant progress’ in infrastructure projects with a breakthrough in the Dhhedre tunnel (Makwanpur), part of the Kathmandu-Tarai Fast Track project, and completion of the lining of the Nagdhunga main tunnel. In road construction and maintenance, over the past 100 days, 4,038 km of roads have been repaired, and 32.5 km have been blacktopped, contributing to road safety.

In the energy sector, generation of 30 MW of electricity has begun at the Upper Trishuli 3A Hydropower Project while the Chilime Hub GIS Substation and Trishuli Hub Hybrid GIS Substation have also become operational, strengthening the national grid.

Prime Minister Oli took the occasion to highlight the consensus reached on over four dozen acts, regulations and procedures across various ministries as one of the administration’s achievements. The government and political parties have successfully pushed the remaining tasks of the peace process, initiated 17 years ago, toward a logical conclusion, he said while mentioning the Parliament’s endorsement and the presidential authentication of the Bill to amend the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act.

Oli said that while the two major ruling parties Nepali Congress and CPN-UML have a long history of political rivalry, they came together because of their shared commitments to political stability, development and good governance. While opposition has persisted since the government's inception, the prime minister said the government will remain resolute in its shared commitments for the greater good of the country.

Singer Arjun Sapkota has premiered his latest song, ‘Dukha Satamla Sukha Satamla’, dedicated to couples whose love has blossomed into marriage. Released on Oct 21, the song has quickly gained popularity, amassing around 650,000 views and reaching #1 on the YouTube music trending charts within three days.

The song’s music video showcases footage from Sapkota’s marriage ceremony with Dipa Simkhada, adding a personal touch to this celebration of love.

In a heartfelt message, Sapkota expressed, “We wish all the loving couples success in their love. We want to share the happiness of the most important moment of our life with all of you, and we hope that your love and blessings will continue to be upon us.” 

The song features vocals by Arjun Sapkota, Devi Gharti, and Samikshya Adhikari. The lyrics are penned by Santosh Sapkota, with music composed by Arjun Sapkota himself. The production team includes HBN Kismat for music arrangement, mixing, and mastering, while Raaj and Aakash served as recordists.

Instrumental contributions come from Hemanta Kanchha Rasaily on sarangi, Gopal Dev on flute, and Madan Regmi on madal. The Panche Baja is provided by HBN Kismat.

Leaders of the major opposition parties in the federal Parliament have called on President Ram Chandra Paudel on Wednesday.  The leaders including CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal met the President at the latter's office.

On the occasion, the leaders informed the President about their submission of a memorandum to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and the government's shortcomings.

President Paudel's press advisor Kiran Pokharel informed that the leaders of the opposition parties met President Paudel and talked about the current situation. They urged the President to play the role of guardian of democracy and the Constitution. The leaders claimed that some conspiracies were being hatched against the spirit of the Constitution in the country, Pokharel shared.

In response to the leaders' concern, President Paudel assured that he was committed to the constitutional provisions and democratic norms. 

The party including CPN (Maoist Center), Rastriya Swatantra Party, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, CPN (Unified Socialist) and Aam Janata Party are in the opposition in the Parliament.

Maoist Center Chair Dahal, leader Shakti Basnet, RSP leaders Shishir Khanal and Sumana Shrestha, RPP leaders Buddhiman Tamang and Hemjung Gurung, CPN (US) Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal and Vice Chair Rajendra Prasad Pandey and Aam Janata Party leader Tilak Magar were present in the meeting.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said that the government is clear that any alleged cases of corruption can be investigated at any time and those found responsible for such wrong doings will be held accountable.

Unveiling the government's achievements in its first 100 hundred days amidst a special program at the Singha Durbar-based Office of the Prime Ministers and Council of Ministers today, the head of government said legal actions have been launched against the misappropriation of cooperative funds on the same basis.

"As of date, over 600 individuals have faced legal actions, and above 575 are in confinement," he said, adding that the government is working on a draft to formulate the Cooperative Authority Act aimed at refunding the savings of cooperative members and establishing the Cooperative Loan Information Center and the Debt Recovery Tribunal. 

According to Prime Minister Oli, the government is clear that the prevention of corruption and the establishment of good governance can't be achieved 'overnight', they require systematic efforts, instead.

He said the law is a guiding tool for the government to respond to corruption and combat it.

He said, " We have felt the pervasive culture of evading legal repercussions in cases of corruption, protecting corrupts and abettors of corruption, and spreading instability and anarchy in the nation."

Similarly, during the address, he said the incumbent government is sensitive about addressing the concerns of farmers. He said this government has already cleared dues to 1.5 million dairy farmers.

Earlier, the government allocated Rs 600 million for their payments. Similarly, around 75,000 sugarcane farmers have also received their entitled subsidies, according to the PM.

PM Oli added that the government in this period released Rs 800 million to the accounts of Nepal Insurance Authority to cover farmers' insurance claims and paid Rs 6.75 billion to construction companies in this period.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the current government will not compromise with anyone on the issues of national interests, good governance and development. 

Unveiling the government's achievements made in the first 100 days in his office, the PM said that corruption control and maintenance of good governance was not a matter of mere publicity but should be developed as a system for good governance.

"The government has considered laws as the Guru for corruption control not the camera," the PM said, stating that the government's priority was on institutionalizing a legal system to curb corruption as a result.

With the purpose to protect corrupts and agents of corruption amid the fear of languishing on corruption charges and the desire to escape from actions, we have seen such elements being active aiming to create instability and anarchy in the country, PM Oli said.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the current government was successful in completing the remaining jobs of the peace process.

In his address to the nation to share the government's achievements in its 100 days today, PM Oli said the bill to amend the Enforced Disappeared Persons and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was passed unopposed from the federal Parliament and was also authenticated by the President.

"A search committee has been formed to constitute the Commission so as to conclude the peace process. This has advanced the process for the constitution of the commission," PM Oli shared.  

This is a pleasing message to our society that witnessed a long insurgency, PM Oli said.