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Tikapur (Kailali), Jan 17: The repair and colouring of the border marker pillars along the Nepal-India border has been started in Kailali district.

The repair of the border markers has been initiated on Thursday with the participation of the security bodies of Nepal and India and in the presence of Chief District Officer of Kailali, Gogan Bahadur Hamal.

The repair and colouring of the border pillars has been started by putting a new coat of paint on the Border Pillar 73/2 at Khakraula, Tikapur Municipality-7.

Out of the seven main border pillars within Tikapur municipality area, only three pillars – pillar number 700, 705 and 707 – are intact whereas the remaining main and auxiliary ones have been swept away by the Karnali and Mohana rivers.

The locals have been calling for protecting the Pillar No 704 as it is in vulnerable situation.

There are seven main border pillars and other auxiliary ones within Tikapur municipality area.

Speaking at the start of repair and maintenance works, CDO Hamal said works on repair, maintenance and colouring of the border pillars is being carried out as it is the responsibility of both nations to keep the border marker pillars on the international border intact and well-maintained.

On the occasion, he urged the security bodies of both countries to pay extra attention to prevention and control of cross-border snuggling of goods, drug trafficking and fugitives from one country hiding in the other through the Nepal-India open border. 

Five ordinances recently got the presidential stamp of approval, giving the ruling coalition some relief at a time when it has been delaying the winter session of the Parliament for quite some time for reasons best known to it.

The five instruments that got the final seal are the Ordinance to Amend Some Nepal Acts related to Promoting Good Governance and Public Service Delivery (2025); the Economic Procedure and Financial Accountability (First Amendment) Ordinance (2025); the Privatization (First Amendment) Ordinance (2025); and the Ordinance to Amend Some Nepal Acts Related to Improving the Economic and Business Environment and Enhancing Investment (2025) and the Ordinance to Amend the Land Act-1964, the Forest Act-2019 and the National Park Act (1973).

Per reports, the President had some reservations vis-a-vis the last ordinance, but they got sorted out, ultimately.     

While the government cites several bills stuck in various parliamentary committees as the reason behind the delay in summoning the session, six opposition parties, including the main opposition—the CPN (Maoist Center)—see a sinister design.

The opposition parties fear that the government is trying to rule through ordinances by avoiding parliamentary scrutiny of its performance.

At a meeting of the opposition parties held at the Center’s parliamentary party office on Wednesday, the opposition camp came down heavily on the government, accusing it of bypassing democratic norms and demanding commencement of the session at the earliest.

On more occasions than one, this daily has stood for parliamentary scrutiny of government moves and against a rule through ordinances. A rule by ordinances undermines the very spirit of a democratic polity worth its name as it gives the already powerful executive more powers to ride roughshod over civil liberties and other cherished democratic values. The ‘Ordinance Raaj’ should be an exception, not the norm. As things stand, there’s no reason why the government should resort to ordinances to run the affairs of the state. 

So, the government should do a course correction, request the President to call the winter session without further delays and stand ready to face parliamentary scrutiny by keeping in mind that delays in convening the session will end up emboldening elements bent on discrediting this polity. 

The Ministry of Health and Population has sent Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine against cervical cancer in all the seven provinces.

The government is launching a nation-wide programme to administer the HPV vaccine against cervical cancer to 1.688 million girls between 10-14 years old from February 4-18.

Director of Logistic Management Division of the Department of Health Services, Dr Pawan Jung Rayamajhi, said the 1.770 million doses of HPV vaccine was brought to Nepal with the support of Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI) and sent in all provinces.

Rayamajhi mentioned that GAVI provide the HPV vaccine free of cost to protect girls from cervical cancer.

He added that 275,180 doses of vaccine was sent to Koshi Province, 380,460 doses in Madhes Province, 125,800 doses in Bagmati Hetauda, 218,280 doses in Bagmati Bhaktapur, 130,870 doses in Gandaki Province, 298,910 doses in Lumbini Province, 124,400 doses in Karnali Provinces and 187,120 doses in Sudurpaschim Province.

The provinces would send the vaccines to their respective districts.

Rayamajhi said four women die from cervical cancer each day in Nepal. 

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the government is making efforts to promote the health and education sectors.

In his address to the first convocation of the Pokhara Academy of Health Sciences as the Academy Chancellor, the Prime Minister claimed a progress and transformation in each sectors.

Assimilating the approach of 'prosperous Nepal, happy Nepali', the modernized version, as he said, of the motto of 'Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah' (May all be happy), promoted by our sages, the government is working to achieve the goal, he added.

Describing Kaski as the place of commencement of the Vedic science, he said this is a glorious history for us.

The PM also took time to say that Nepal will explore the venture for development with the utilization of artificial intelligence.

He said, "China could elevate such an enormous size of population from the poverty line in a short time. We should also gear up for building the nation. If we work, Nepal will be built." PM and Academy Chancellor Oli wished the graduates to prove themselves as an exemplary and integrated personality for the society.

On the occasion, thirty-eight graduates under the MD and MS courses in the year 2080 BS took part in the convocation.

The Prime Minister honoured Arbind Kumar Shah (Orthopedics) and Ashish Sapkota (General Surgery) with the Vice Chancellor Award for their outstanding performances.

University Pro-Chancellor and Minister for Health and Population, Pradip Paudel, were present on the occasion.

Prof Magnus Westgren from Karolinska University of Stockholm, Sweden gave his speech. Academy Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Duk Bahadur Chhetri said that in course of expanding the services, the Academy has prepared for operating a 50-bed emergency ward.

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has instructed the ministers representing the party in the present government to make its works effective.

In a meeting with the party officials and the ministers representing the party in the government held at his residence in Budhanilkantha today, President Deuba directed the ministers to deliver services on matters directly related to the public in a smooth and effective manner, said Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Ajaya Kumar Chaurasiya. "Make the service delivery on matters concerning the people prompt, efficient and transparent. Give priority to the Ministry's works rather than the party's works by managing the time in the right way," Minister Chaurasiya quoted Deuba as saying in the meeting. President Deuba also urged the ministers to extend the required cooperation in making the government more effective.

The party vice-president, general-secretary, leaders, the party's Chief Whip in the House of Representatives and the National Assembly were among those present in the meeting.

On the occasion, President Deuba acquired information from the ministers regarding ongoing works and the remaining works in their respective ministries.

He also directed the ministers to finalize the legislations under the ministries concerned before the commencement of the Parliament session.

Chief Whip of the NC Parliamentary Party Shyam Prasad Ghimire said today's meeting decided to work actively to make the government effective and successful, and to hold regular discussions on important topics.

According to him, discussions were also held to carry out works actively to finalize the bills under consideration at various committees and to speed up the process for conducting the physical infrastructure projects remaining from the past and other programmes under the jurisdiction of the ministries, among other topics.

Chief Whip Ghimire added that decision has been made in the meeting to take the required initiatives for completion of the development projects awaiting resources despite being included in the budget of the current fiscal year, those projects whose tender call has not been made and those projects whose works are not progressing as expected speed despite the starting of the construction works.

Decision has been made to have open meeting on two stipulated days in a week, to listen to the citizen's grievances, to take the suggestions and to become completely dedicated to the ministry's works in the remaining five days.

The parliamentary party working committee and the ministers shall make coordination through discussions regarding the lawmakers' concerns, suggestions and expectations.

Party President Deuba has also instructed the ministers to visit the party's central office once in a month regarding the suggestions and demands that come to the party central office through the party's province committee, the district committee, region and local levels.

Ten ministers and two ministers of state are representing the Nepali Congress in the present government headed by CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli.

On the occasion, the ministers had briefed Party President Deuba the meeting about the works being carried out by their respective ministries, the problems encountered and the concerns.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 7. 33 points to close at 2, 588. 62 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 2. 39 points to close at 436. 62 points.

A total of 11,749,701-unit shares of 296 companies were traded for Rs 5. 93 billion.

Meanwhile, Bottlers Nepal (Balaju) Limited (BNL), Wean Nepal Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (WNLB) and Mandakini Hydropower Limited (MHL) were the ​​​​​​top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Pokhara Finance Ltd. (PFL) was the top loser as its price fell by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 29 trillion.

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

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association, the gold is being traded at Rs 156, 600 per tola. 

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,880 per tola today

The government has made public the list of products that public institutions must purchase from domestic producers even if they are more expensive than the imported ones.

The Directive on the Use of Domestic Products in Public Institutions, 2025, which was published recently in the gazette following its approval by the cabinet, aims to maximize the use of locally available resources, promote domestic manufacturing, create employment, reduce imports and develop the market for locally manufactured goods. 

The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies prepared the list after collecting feedback from all stakeholders. More than four dozen products have been listed on the appendix of the directives. 

According to the directives, constitutional bodies, courts, ministries of the federal or provincial governments, secretariats, commissions, departments or any other government agencies or offices, institutions, companies, banks, or committees fully or majority owned or controlled by the federal or provincial governments are the public offices that must use Nepali products listed in the directives. Other public offices that must buy domestic products include commissions, institutions, authorities, corporations, foundations, boards, centers, councils and similar organized institutions established at the public level or formed by provincial governments under prevailing laws. Likewise, universities, colleges, research centers and similar academic or educational institutions operated by or receiving full or majority grants from the federal or provincial governments, local levels, development committees formed under the Development Committee Act 2013, and institutions operating under federal or provincial government loans or grants have also been defined as public institutions.

As per the directives, public institutions must only use handmade paper and paper products, brown paper, pencils, ball pens, envelopes, notebooks, registers, tissue paper, diaries, copies, chalk, board markers, files, file binding cloth and drawstrings produced locally. Similarly, they can only use furniture and furnishing products, floriculture and decoration items produced locally. Likewise, public institutions must now purchase furniture made from wood, plywood, cane and bamboo products from domestic producers only. 

The list also includes bags and shawls used in workshops and seminars as well as products made from allo, bamboo and banana fiber. Woolen products, dhaka and dhaka-related items, pashmina products, jute products, uniforms and caps prescribed for public institution employees and officials, shoes, belts, and bags, badges, and other materials used in assemblies or conferences, as well as traditional handicrafts, woodcrafts, sculptures, paintings, and stone products must also be procured from domestic producers.

The list also includes carpets (woven or non-woven), towels, bedsheets, curtains, mattresses, EPE rolls, mats, foam, pillows, and other furnishing items, table mats, planters, tea mats, candles, incense sticks, leaf plates, and other decorative and utility items.

Agricultural and animal products, food and beverages including milk and dairy products, eggs, fish, meat and meat products, processed oils, vegetable ghee, tea, coffee, cardamom, ginger, spices, all types of fruits and fruit juices, mineral water, processed drinking water (bottle or jar), and soft drinks must also be purchased from domestic producers. The list of products to be be procured from domestic producers also includes cleaning liquids and chemicals (toilet, bathroom, and window/door cleaners), phenyl, soap (including liquid), detergent, shampoo, room spray, brooms, brushes and other cleaning materials, dustbins, bowls, buckets, mugs, toilet paper, flower garlands, flower plants and other plants must be purchased domestically.

Likewise, the directive mandates public offices to procure transformers up to 63 MVA, equipment for hydropower projects up to 2 MW, copper or aluminum binding wire, computer software, dry batteries, agricultural machinery and equipment, ACSR, AAC aluminum conductors and cables up to 1.1 KV, PSC and STP poles and helmets from domestic producers. The list also includes construction materials such as cement, steel, bricks, paint products, AAC blocks, aluminum aluminum windows and doors, prefab wall panels and wooden products.

Similarly, products like flour, biscuits, honey, herbal products and plastic packaging films and sheets used in public institutions, public schools, community hospitals, elderly homes, children's homes, rehabilitation centers and prisons must also be purchased from domestic producers.