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Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has directed Nepal Drugs Limited (NDL) to immediately start producing 20 generic medicines. He lauded the initiatives undertaken by NDL to produce medicines. 

The PM called a team of NDL, including its Chairperson Yagya Neupane, to his office and instructed the government pharmaceutical company to forthwith start production.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister directed the NDL to go ahead with its works in a new way, saying although it had carried out good job in medicine production in the past, obstructions were seen in this of late.

"The Nepal Drugs Limited had done a good job in production of medicines in the past. I understand that there were some obstructions in the meantime. I called this meeting with the thinking that the task of drug manufacturing should be expedited in a new manner. You start the work, I am ready to provide whatever support that is required of the government for the same," he added.

PM Dahal stressed on initiating works by producing 20 generic medicines for now and enhancing both its quality and volume in the future. He further added, "This is also one of the potential sectors for making the country prosperous. All things cannot be done at once. You, please, start work. I too will hold more discussions with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry. Let us carry out works in this sector in a way the people will get a feel of this."

NDL Chairman Neupane said that 10 generic medicines were being produced at present and homework is on for manufacturing 20 medicines immediately, the PM's Private Secretariat said.

He said the NDL could not carry out its works in an effective manner due to the outstanding liabilities that remained to be paid from the past.

He also expressed his commitment that the production would be made systematic and regular by managing some technical workforce, improving the quality of machines and purchasing some new machines.

The government is to take ahead the process to make the overdue payments of the contractors.

Holding a discussion with the contractors on Sunday, Prime Minister Dahal directed the concerned authority to proceed with the payment process.

According to the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, the process to make the payment will start from today itself.

The contractors have been hitting the streets for a long time demanding payments for their completed works.

Prime Minister Dahal directed the Finance Ministry to speed up the development works by disbursing Rs 6.3 billion immediately.

Following the directive of the Prime Minister, the Finance Ministry has decided to proceed with the payment process from today itself.

Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat, Physical Infrastructure and Transport Minister Prakash Jwala, Chief Secretary Baikuntha Aryal and Finance Secretary Krishna Hari Pushkar among others were present in the meeting.

Traffic is to be allowed on the Narayangadh-Muglin road section during the day today and tomorrow also.

A decision has been made to allow regular traffic on this road section during the day time today and tomorrow in view of the Maghe Sankranti religious fair that takes place at Devghatdham on the occasion of the Maghe Sankranti festival, said Er Krishna Acharya, the Information Officer of Nagdhunga-Muglin Road Project West Sector (Narayangadh-Muglin).

Construction works were being carried out on this road section since December 23, stopping traffic for four hours during the day. A hillock is being removed for constructing a bridge over the Tuinkhola river on this road section.

Before this, a meeting of the security committee of the district had given permission to carry out the construction works by stopping traffic on this road section for an additional three weeks.

Former judge Bhuwan Giri’s wife attempted self-immolation on the premises of the Supreme Court on Sunday.

Giri’s wife Arati Giri, who had reached the apex court this afternoon, tried to set herself on fire by pouring petrol over her body.

Soon after the incident, police rescued her and took her to the Bir Hospital.

District Police Range, Kathmandu spokesperson Kumod Dhungel said her health condition is normal.

She has filed a marital rape case against her husband.

Earlier, the Kapilvastu District Court had issued an arrest warrant against Giri.

Later, the District Police Range, Kathmandu apprehended Giri and sent him to Kapilvastu.

After his arrest, the Kapilvastu District Court and the Kathmandu District Court released him on bail.

The parties in the ruling coalition have called for making the coalition candidates victorious in the upcoming National Assembly election.

Issuing an appeal on behalf of the ruling coalition partners, the parties stated that the candidates fielded for the upper house election are the common candidates.

"We have formed this political alliance for protection of the Constitution of Nepal and strengthening of the democratic republican system. Attainment of sustainable peace, good governance, development, prosperity and social justice is our common goal," reads the joint appeal.

It further reads: "Political stability is the precondition for the country's progress. The coalition is committed to the consolidation of the democratic, republican system, political stability, durable peace, good governance and prosperity, and will remain sincerely active for the same."

Cautioning against the possibility of various activities toward weakening the coalition in course of the election, the joint appeal states, "This election is also an opportunity to further ensure political stability in the country by making the alliance more organized and stronger. Therefore, it is necessary to firmly stand in support of the coalition. We appeal to all the voters to vote for the coalition candidates and make them victorious with overwhelming votes in the election."

The ruling coalition has fielded Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Champa Devi Karki, Ananda Prasad Dhungana, Puja Chaudhary, Bishnu Devi Pudasaini, Jit Jung Basnet, Shree Krishna Prasad Adhikari and Ghanshyam Rijal for the NA election.

Similarly, Manarupa Sharma, Kiran Babu Shrestha, Padam Bahadur Pariyar, Bishnu Kumari Sapkota, Jhakku Prasad Subedi, Krishna Bahadur Rokaya, Sabitri Malla, Bishnu Bahadur Bishwokarma, Renu Chand, Baldev Bohara and Narayan Datta Bhatt are the candidates on behalf the coalition.

Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Unified Socialist) Chair Madhav Kumar Nepal, the Janata Samajwadi Party Chair Upendra Yadav, Nagarik Unmukti Party Chairperson Ranjita Shrestha, Loktantrik Samajwadi Party Chair Mahantha Thakur and Rastriya Janamorcha Chair Chitra Bahadur KC have signed on the joint appeal.

A meeting of the Nepal-India Inter-Governmental Sub-Committee (IGSC) on Trade, Transit and Cooperation to Control Unauthorized Trade concluded in Kathmandu.

The two-day meeting that ran on January 12 and 13 aimed to promote bilateral cooperation and trade relations and transit by preventing unauthorized trade. Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Ram Chandra Tiwari headed the Nepali delegation to the meeting that was attended by representatives from various ministries and departments.

Joint Secretary Vipul Bansal of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India led the Indian delegation to the meeting which witnessed the participation of representatives of Embassy of India in Kathmandu and senior government officials from India.

The meeting discussed various agendas while also exploring ways for finding a mutual market access for medicinal and ayurvedic goods.

The Indian side highlighted the significance of the Paris Convention to promote foreign direct investment. The meeting stressed on the need of strengthening unobstructed trans-national connectivity between Nepal and India including the establishment of an integrated customs point and the construction of a railway service between the two countries.

India remains a major trading partner of Nepal. The meeting is expected to contribute to further enhancing the economic and business relations between the two countries.  

The price of gold has increased by Rs 600 per tola in the domestic market on Sunday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 119, 200 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 118, 600  per tola on Friday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 118, 650 per tola. It was traded at Rs 118, 050 per tola.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 20 and is being traded at Rs 1,420 per tola today.  

Two persons died in separate road accidents in Shivasatakshi Municipality and Kamal Rural Municipality of Jhapa on Saturday.  At least eight people were injured in the accidents.

A person died when a motorbike (Me 10 Pa 7212) and a car (Ba 14 Cha 6603) collided with each other at Shivasatakshi-10.

The deceased has been identified as Anup Dhakal (23) of Damak-9, DSP Khagendra Prasad Rijal said.

Dhakal died while undergoing treatment at the Birta City Hospital, Birtamod. Pillion rider Pradeep Basnet (21) of Urlabari-1, Morang sustained injuries in the accident.

Likewise, car driver Anil Kumar Shah (50) of Birtamod-3, Jaya Prakash Shah (53) of Birtamod-4, Ranjan Shah (44) and Lalit Shah (53) of Birtamod-3 were also injured in the accident.

In yet another road mishap in Jhapa on Saturday, a person died in a scooter-motorbike collision.

The deceased has been identified as Raghunath Bhattarai (70) of Kankai-3.

The accident took place when a motorbike (Me 6 Pa 3152) en route to east from west first hit another motorbike (Province 1-01-016 Pa 8992) heading towards the same direction and then hit a scooter (Province 1-01-016 Pa 7140) coming from the opposite direction.

Chandra Prasad Bhattarai (52) and Raghunath Bhattarai (70) of Kankai-5 were injured in the accident.

Critically injured Raghunath died on the way to hospital, DSP Rijal informed.