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The Ministry of Health and Population has passed the 'Guidelines for printing warning message and pictures on box, packet and wrapper of tobacco products-2081'.

Endorsing the Guidelines, the Ministry said sale and purchase of tobacco products without warning message and pictures would not be allowed.

On the occasion, Health Minister Pradeep Paudel said the rule of mandatorily printing the pictures depicting the harm on human health on box, packet and wrapper of tobacco products has come into force, stressing the need that all should coordinate to follow and make others follow the rule.

The Guideline would come into force from the180th day after its endorsement. Spokesperson at the Ministry, Dr Prakash Budhathoki, said an arrangement has been made to print warning messages in Nepali language and pictures on the entire box, packet and wrappers of tobacco products in Nepal as some of the studies have shown that number of people quitting cigarette and tobacco has increased in some countries due to such messages and pictures.

Earlier, it was necessary to print warning message and picture at 90 percent space of the box, packet and wrapper of tobacco products.

It is expected that such warning message would help reduce the number of smokers as well as number of people suffering from cancer and other fatal diseases.

He further said as per the statistics, around 37,000 people die from the consumption of tobacco products every year in Nepal. 

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 11. 64 points to close at 2, 699. 81 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 1. 55 points to close at 454. 49 points.

A total of 18,680,392-unit shares of 315 companies were traded for Rs 9. 24 billion.

Meanwhile, Upper Lohore Khola Hydropower Company Limited (ULHC)was the top gainer today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, Upakar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (ULBSL) and Corporate Development Bank Limited (CORBL)​​​​​​​​​​​​​​were the top losers as their price fell by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 47 trillion.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has directed the Ministry of Urban Development to expedite up-gradation of Kirtipur stadium.

While obtaining information about the activities of the ministry at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Minsters today, PM Oli directed the ministry to speed up the task of upgrading the Kirtipur Cricket Stadium to the international level.

It may be noted that the PM had pledged to upgrade the stadium within 300 days of his tenure while taking charge of the premiership of the country.

On the occasion, PM Oli was briefed that the contract signing for up-gradation of the stadium would be undertaken soon as the evaluation phase was almost coming to an end as per the tender solicited by the ministry for the construction of parfait and flood lights.

The discussion was held on the presence of Deputy Prime Minster and Minster for Urban Development Prakash Man Singh and concerned officials. 

The District Court Chitwan has sent former Home Minister and Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) President Rabi Lamichhane to custody for today on charge of embezzling the funds of Sahara Chitwan Multi-purpose Cooperative Limited.

Lamichhane was sent to custody after his hearing remained incomplete today.

Registrar at Chitwan District Court Bishnu Acharya shared that Lamichhane was handed over to the police after the hearing whether or not to keep him in detention for investigation did not end today.

The detention hearing had started immediately after the face-to-face explanation of Lamichhane concluded this morning.

Police was handed over the responsibility to look after Lamichhane in a way to present him at 10 am on Thursday.

It may be noted that the Government Attorney Office Chitwan on Tuesday had filed a case against 15 persons, including Lamichhane for their alleged involvement in cooperative funds scam.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has inquired about the progress of Kathmandu-Tarai expressway achieved so far.

He also sought information on the existing problems and measures for the solution.

The under-construction Kathmandu-Tarai/Madhes fast track is a national pride project.

Discussion was held on it with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Bishnu Prasad Poudel; Minister for Physical Infrastructures and Transport, Devendra Dahal; Defense Minister Manbir Rai; PM's Advisor on Economic Affairs, Dr Yubraj Khatiwada; Chief of Army Staffs, Ashok Raj Sigdel; and high-ranking officials at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.

The Nepal​​​​​​​Army briefed the meeting about the problems regarding land acquisition at Khokana, the beginning point of the project located in the southern outskirt of the Kathmandu Valley and delay in removing tress in the project area.

On the occasion, the PM expressed the belief that there would be no compromise in construction of the project as responsibility for the construction of the project was given to the NA.

He urged the concerned ministries to bring proposals for the resolution of the problems in the Khokana area.

Construction of 70.97 km fast track had initiated in 2074 BS at a cost of Rs 211.93 billion.

A target has been set to complete the project in Chaitra 2083 BS.

However, the overall physical progress of the project is 37.6 per cent and financial progress 39.74 per cent so far.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 4. 45 points to close at 2, 711. 45 points on Wednesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 1. 07 points to close at 456. 04 points.

A total of 19,181,414-unit shares of 309 companies were traded for Rs 8. 95 billion.

Meanwhile, Upakar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (ULBSL) and Chhyangdi Hydropower Ltd. (CHL) were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, Samudayik Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SLBSL) and Corporate Development Bank Limited (CORBL) were the top losers as their price fell by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 49 trillion.

Minister for Health and Population Pradip Paudel has said the HPV vaccination campaign against cervical cancer has been launched to make Nepal healthy in the future.

He urged all to publicize and support from their respective places so that no girl is deprived of this vaccine. "The government aims to ensure that the target groups are not left out of the innoculation as vaccines and human resources have reached across the country. It will help build a healthy Nepal and the campaign will work to make Nepal healthy in the future," Minister Paudel said while addressing the inaugural program of the HPV Vaccination Campaign 2025 today.

Secretary at the Ministry of Health and Population, Dr Roshan Pokharel, said that the vaccination campaign has been launched with the objective of prevention of cervical cancer. "Every year, we will administer this vaccine to adolescent girls through a regular vaccination schedule and we want to ensure that every girl has a safe future," he said.

On the occasion, Director General of the Department of Health Services, Dr Bikash Devkota, said Nepal was proud to include this vaccine being used in 145 countries. "The cases of non-communicable diseases are increasing in the country and among them, the burden of cancer is further rising. Cervical cancer is diagnosed in six women and four of them die due to this every day in Nepal. Therefore, we have started the HPV vaccination campaign targeting the adolescent girls. This campaign is centred in schools. Girls missed out and the out-of-school girls will also be vaccinated," he said.

The Ministry has started the free HPV vaccination program against cervical cancer throughout the country from today. The vaccination campaign will last till February 18.

It is said, under the vaccination drive, 1,688,900 girls will be administered the vaccine that protects against cervical cancer.

Girls from grade six to ten and also the out-of-school girls aged 10-14 will be administered the HPV vaccines under this campaign. 

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has called for combined efforts from all for the success of the free human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign that commenced from today.

Inaugurating a nationwide campaign organised by the Ministry of Health and Population at Shivapuri Secondary School in Maharajgunj today on the occasion of World Cancer Day, he said the joint efforts of all concerned were essential to make the Healthy Nepal campaign a success.

PM Oli on the occasion stated that happiness and prosperity of mankind is the goal of the government, and the present government was active to free Nepali citizens from diseases and deprivation.

He also said that the government was aware that no one should fall sick and arrangements should be made for easy and quality treatment in case of illness.

The Prime Minister advised all to eat healthy and nutritious food only as the health of the citizens is at the centre of the Healthy Nepal Campaign.

He said cervical cancer could be eradicated as the Covid-19 pandemic has also been overcome with the joint efforts of all.

The Prime Minister wished that no girl in the designated group is deprived of the right to receive a free HPV vaccine against cervical cancer.

According to the Department of Health Services, girls from grade six to ten and also the out-of-school girls aged 10-14 will be administered the HPV vaccines.

It is said, under the vaccination drive, 1,688,900 girls will be administered the vaccine that protects against cervical cancer.