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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. 

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.