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National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal and Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkiye Numan Kurtulmus held a meeting on Saturday on the sidelines of the 152nd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).  NA Chair Dahal is in Istanbul to participate in the 152nd IPU Assembly.

On the occasion, they discussed the issues—relations, mutual welfare and parliamentary cooperation between the two countries, according to Dahal's Secretariat.

Stating that the relations between the two countries should be further strengthened and deepened, NA Chair Dahal mentioned that they were eager to exchange parliamentary experience, visits and form a parliamentary friendship group.

He underlined that Nepal and Turkiye have enjoyed diplomatic relations for six decades, urging the Turkish Speaker to establish a Turkish Embassy in Nepal to further deepen bilateral relations in the coming days.

The NA Chairperson also expressed gratitude for warm welcome and hospitality by the Turkish government and Parliament at the IPU Assembly. 

Similarly, the Speaker expressed his pleasure in welcoming Nepali parliamentary delegation along with NA Chairperson to Istanbul.  

Sharing that they were always ready to further strengthen bilateral relations between Turkiye and Nepal, Speaker Numan opined that the Turkish government is positive to establish Turkish Embassy in Nepal. 

He viewed that the Turkish government has arranged a limited quota of educational scholarship for Nepal, expressing commitment to increase such quota as well as to increase trade between the two countries.

Mentioning that COP-31 is scheduled in Turkiye in November, the Speaker also requested Nepal to provide necessary support for its leadership.

Minister for Communications and Information Technology Dr Bikram Timilsina today visited the Security Printing Center at Panauti Municipality-5, Kavre and acquired information on the latest status of driver's license printing. 

During the inspection, Communications Minister Dr Timilsina said the government is currently prioritising the improvement of public service delivery and is working to end the situation where citizens had to wait for a long time to obtain the license even after passing the trial.

He stated that from today, the arrangement to print and hand over the licence within 24 hours of paying the revenue after passing the trial has been implemented.

The Communications Minister announced that the license printing process is being accelerated and there is a goal to have all remaining licenses printed by July 16.

“The tendency to sit on feasible work by calling it impossible will end. The problem of not receiving the licence for months after passing the trial will be resolved, and the process of printing, which can be completed within 24 hours of paying the revenue, will be implemented from today itself,” he said.

Minister Dr Timilsina emphasized that the Security Printing Center should be developed as a significant state asset and a promising institution.

He mentioned that making the Center effective has been his priority since the first day of taking charge of the ministry, and problems had become complicated in various agencies due to a lack of necessary willpower and readiness in the past.

He emphasized the need to increase institutional responsibility by resolving those issues. 

He expressed dissatisfaction over equipment purchased with large investments lying unused for years, while instructing to make effective use of the Center's available equipment.

The minister emphasized the need to use equipment worth around Rs  one billion, including generators. 

He also questioned why work could not be done in the past, given that machines that had been idle for three years are now operational and printing work is possible.

In the course of the monitoring, Minister Timilsina instructed the bodies concerned to give high priority to citizen's data security, clarifying that the government would perform in favour of the people. 

"The government does not carry out activities in the interest of anyone. It will run for people's welfare," he mentioned.  

The Communications Minister opined that the ministry is committed to keeping the service seekers in the center as well as to listen and address their problems. 

He added that the issues of making mobile network and internet services accessible and improving the quality across the country is also on the Ministry's priority. 

Minister Timilsina underlined that a target has been set to bring all citizens of the country to the access of technology within a year by addressing the complaints about the quality of Nepal Telecom's service. 

Similarly, Executive Director of Security Printing Center, Devraj Dhungana, mentioned that they have been preparing a business plan to make this organization strong in a sustainable manner. 

He viewed that important documents like passports, cheque books, smartcards, postage stamps and exercise duty stickers could be printed from this centre in future. The centre has submitted a detailed plan along with around Rs 8 billion budget before the government, he added. 

Dhungana shared that the center has now been printing around 40,000 licenses every day, adding a target has been set to print 1.2 million licenses within April 25 and the remaining 1.7 million licenses within July 16.

Lawmakers-- Madhu Kumar Chaulagain, Dr Ram Lama, Badan Kumar Bhandari, among others were present on the occasion.

Minister Timilsina also enquired about the Center’s status of physical infrastructures, machines and empty buildings.

Prime Minister Balendra Shah has expressed his respect, gratitude and appreciation to all mothers on the occasion of today's Matatirtha Aunsi.

On this occasion, PM Shah has stated that the mother and motherland are above heaven, and has stated the mother as a symbol of the nation, while wishing for Nepal's bright future. 

Taking to his social sites, the PM has described the mother's lap as warm and her feet as pious like a pilgrimage site and stated that mothers as an unmatched example of love and sacrifice.    

In his message, PM Shah has wished all mothers for their long life and has praised mothers as the first teacher in life.  

PM Shah has emphasized that children of all mothers should create an environment to make their mothers feel proud through their deeds and should bring smiles to mothers' faces. 

The Ambassador of Qatar to Nepal, Mishal Mohammed Al Ansari, paid a courtesy call on Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal at the Ministry on Thursday. 

During the courtesy call, views were exchanged on further strengthening bilateral relations in areas of mutual interest, including labour migration, partnership in hydropower and agriculture, tourism and investment promotion, according to the Ministry.  

It is said that matters commemorating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Qatar were also discussed on the occasion.