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Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed the bodies concerned to take measures immediately to stop the inconveniences faced at the airport by abroad-bound Nepalis going on visit visa and taking work permit. He said that complaints of this have been received.

The PM issued this instruction in the course of discussions today with Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha, the Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Sarat Singh Bhandari, Chief Secretary Dr Baikuntha Aryal and the secretaries of the related ministries.

Stating that complaints have been received of those bearing the visit visa and labor permit facing inconvenience at the airport, the PM has instructed for immediately creating a conducive environment, according to the PM's Private Secretariat. 

"I have heard of the complaint that those going abroad on the visit visa are turned back from the airport citing lack of proper documents, but they are allowed to travel after some days through a 'setting' (meaning in collusion). Please do and get done according to the Immigration Work Procedures in connection with those going abroad on visit visa. Please, stop pestering the people," he said.

The Prime Minister has directed the bodies concerned to conduct awareness programs on foreign employment and visit visa reaching the local levels and to work in favor of the nation and people.

The Ministry of Water Supply has urged one and all to trust the quality of water supplied through the Melamchi Drinking Water Supply Project which was resumed from Monday in the Kathmandu Valley.

Issuing a notice today, Ministry Joint Secretary and Spokesperson, Meena Shrestha, said the water supplies from the Melamchi River meet the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards as it is distributed to consumers only after processing it at the water processing plant at Sundarijal.

The Ministry said that initially, the water may appear muddy due to soil residues within the water pipes, a consequence of the prolonged disruption in water supplies. It assures the public that the water will become clear with continued flushing after the resumption of regular supplies. The notice urged consumers not to be swayed by rumors and to trust in the water quality.

Simultaneously, the government has established a facilitating committee to address any issues in the Melamchi drinking water supplies. In case consumers encounter problems, they are requested to contact the committee.  The government aims to supply 170 million liters of water daily from the Melamchi River in Sindhupalchowk to meet the needs of the Kathmandu Valley.

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) collected around Rs 5 billion in revenue in the first half of the current fiscal year 2023/24.

The collection is higher by around 350 million than that of the corresponding period in the last fiscal year.

KMC Revenue Department Chief Dhruba Kafle said that the highest revenue collection for the KMC was from the house rent tax at over Rs 1.35 billion followed by tax on property at over Rs 670 million.

The swelling in the size of taxpayers is attributed to increase in revenue collection. The KMC has aimed to generate over Rs 10 billion in revenue for the current fiscal year.

KMC has been collecting revenue under 36 different headings including property, home maintenance, business registration, advertisement, entertainment, real estate, VAT and vehicles among others, informed Kafle.

If revenue collection goes at the same pace, the KMC would meet its annual revenue collection target at the end of the fiscal year, he said.

The KMC intensifying the tax collection drive also led to collect the outstanding amount for a long thereby contributing to increase in revenue collection.

Soon after signing a long-term power-trade deal with India, Nepal is preparing to export 40 MW electricity to Bangladesh from July this year, according to multiple sources.

Officials from Nepal, Bangladesh and India are working to finalize the modality of power export as soon as possible. During Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s New Delhi visit in May last year, India had agreed to allow Nepal to export 40 MW power to Bangladesh through its grid.

From July, Nepal will start exporting 40 MW to Bangladesh, which will pave the way for more cooperation in the coming days, said a diplomatic source. Now, three countries are working to finalize the tariff and other details to operationalize the agreement.

Nepal and Bangladesh are also working to construct a dedicated transmission line for the export of up to 5000 MW to Bangladesh. But there has been no tripartite agreement regarding the construction of a dedicated transmission line that passes through the Indian territory.  Private investors from Bangladesh are keen to invest in Nepal’s hydropower sector.

The signing of a long-term power trade agreement between Nepal and India has boosted the morale of both Indian and Bangladeshi investors, said the source. With the export of electricity to Bangladesh, the dreams of regional power trade will start materializing, said the government official. Recently, Nepal signed an agreement with India for the export of 10,000 MW over the next 10 years. 

A contingent of 30-Armed Police Force (APF) personnel, under the command of an inspector, has been deployed at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) to oversee customs checks.

The mobilization of the Armed Police Force (APF) in customs affairs aims to ensure effective customs checks and enhance security, said Dr Tokraj Pandey, the chief customs administrator of TIA.

"The decision to involve the APF in customs checks comes in response to the finance ministerial-level request and the decision of the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. The APF personnel are working in five shifts on a daily basis to conduct customs checks at the airport," he added.

The move to seek direct supervision and involvement of the APF in customs duties is expected to improve airport security and facilitate more effective service delivery.

I’m 25 years old and have just completed my bachelor’s degree. I’m currently looking for a job. I realize acquiring additional skills could have made my job search easier and quicker. My parents compare me with other people’s children and that is affecting my mental health. Despite putting in my best effort and working on self-improvement, the pressure from my family members overwhelms me. Due to budget constraints, I can’t spend quality time with friends, who mostly come from more financially privileged backgrounds. I find it challenging to understand why achieving goals is so difficult for someone like me who comes from a modest background.

Answered by Kapil Sharma, counseling psychologist, Nepal Institute of Mental Health

Firstly, Congratulations on completing your bachelor’s degree. It’s important to acknowledge your hard work and dedication, even when it gets challenging. 

Navigating family expectations is a common experience. It often leads to delays in career and personality development. It’s important to remember that everybody’s journey is unique and minimize comparison with others. Having an honest chat with your family is crucial. Let them know how their behavior is affecting you, creating a space for understanding and support. This step can contribute to fostering a healthier environment for personal and professional growth. 

Social comparison sometimes leads to social isolation, particularly when comparing oneself to individuals from financially stable backgrounds. Instead of prioritizing the number of friends, it is more beneficial to focus on building connections based on shared values and interests. True friendships come from sharing experiences and understanding each other, not from comparing financial stability. Instead of comparing yourself to others, consider comparing your current self with your past self.

You are worthy enough, you have to start believing in yourself. Achieving goals is a subjective matter, and your family background might not be the only reason why you are unable to achieve them. Other barriers might be at play. Your effort and progress are commendable, so it’s important to recognize and celebrate your small accomplishments as well.

If it’s challenging to achieve your goal, you can break down the goal into smaller, more manageable steps, making it easier to achieve them gradually. There are low-cost opportunities for skill development, such as online courses, workshops, and networking events.

If you are working on those aspects and find that life is still challenging, consider seeking support. Seeking support involves having open conversations with your family members, and discussing feelings and emotions. If you feel overwhelmed, helpless, or like nobody understands you, it might be a good idea to visit a mental health professional. They can provide valuable coping strategies, a safe space for self-reflection, and assistance in exploring emotions.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has instructed the relevant authorities to expedite the police adjustment process.

During today's meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha, and security officials at his official residence in Baluwatar, the Prime Minister expressed concern over the sluggish progress in the police adjustment process, despite the enactment of the Nepal Police (Province Police Operation and Coordination) Act, 2076 BS.

According to the Prime Minister's Secretariat, he directed them to complete the process within the next 15 days.

In the meeting, the Prime Minister was concerned over the challenges arising from delays in enacting federal laws and executing the police adjustment, adversely affecting the functioning of provinces. He urged the concerned authorities to consider the matter seriously.

"The status of implementation of federalism has not met expectations, and provinces are experiencing direct consequences. The functions of Chief Ministers and provincial governments have been hampered, he said, adding that anti-federalist forces have got a chance to criticize the system and the presence of provincial governments due to this. He called for the prompt conclusion of the adjustment procedures within the next 15 days, in accordance with the Act.

Federal ministers, Chief Secretary Dr Baikuntha Aryal, Home Secretary Dinesh Bhattarai, Inspector General of Police Basanta Kunwar, and officials from the Home Ministry were present on the occasion.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 1, 200 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 118, 200 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 119, 400 per tola on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 117, 650 per tola. It was traded at Rs 118, 850 per tola.

Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 15 and is being traded at Rs 1,400 per tola today.