Border issues should be resolved through dialogue: Dahal
CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said the boundary issues including Kalapani-Lipulek should be resolved based on mutual dialogue and agreement.
Speaking briefly with journalists at Biratnagar Airport today, Chair Dahal, also the former Prime Minister, reminded that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had expressed commitment in the past to resolve border issues involving Kalapani, Lipulek and Limpiyadhura.
The Maoist Center Chair said that he had clearly stated during his visit to India as Prime Minister that the relationship with the neighbour cannot be cordial without resolving the border issues.
"During my latest visit to India as Prime Minister, a 'press briefing' was held where the issue of the border dispute was discussed, and Indian Prime Minister Modi expressed his commitment to resolving the remaining border issues through dialogue," former PM Dahal said.
Chairman Dahal suggested to the government to initiate a dialogue process with the neighbouring friendly nation India to resolve the border issues between the two countries.
Foreign aid, concessional loan should be mobilized as per need: DPM Paudel
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has stressed the need of mobilizing foreign aid and concessional loan on the basis of development needs.
At a program themed "Nepal's Graduation from Least Developed Country to Developed Country and Challenges in Budget Implementation" organized by Former Planners' Forum Nepal today, Finance Minister Paudel mentioned that it is not possible to move ahead being grant-oriented manner in the global context and circumstances, and it is necessary to mobilize concessional loan to be received for country's development in the right way.
"We have not been able to carry out activities and manage resources as per the expectation even after five decades of moving ahead in a planned development. The main challenge is how to connect plans with needs," he opined.
He shared that the government has been facing a big challenge to execute the policy of not implementing the projects less than Rs 30 million by the federal government.
Stressing on the process of capacity building, increasing productivity and competitive development as per the Nepal Human Development Report, Vice-President of the Forum, Dr Posh Raj Pandey, pointed out the need of forwarding the journey of prosperity in a way that international community could respect and trust it.
Similarly, Professor Dr Govinda Nepal made a presentation on the issue of budget implementation and added that arrears are increasing in lack of proper management of expenditure accounts.
The transfer of funds in the last week of Ashad against the Policy of Economic Procedure and Fiscal Responsibility Procedure, 2077, was impractical in terms of expenditure.
US Embassy hands over modern instrument and software to Nepal Police forensic lab
The US Embassy in Nepal handed over modern equipment and the software used for DNA tests and drug tests, to the Nepal Police Central Forensic Science Laboratory.
The Compound DNA Index System (DNA Software) and Drug Detection Instrument were received from the US Embassy so as to make the lab tests scientific and objective.
Amidst a program held at the Nepal police Central Forensic Science Laboratory, Samakhushi, Kathmandu today, the US Embassy handed over the technology.
On the occasion, Inspector General of Police, Deepak Thapa, said that the modern instruments and technologies handed over today would enhance the capacity of the central forensic science lab and thereby deliver reliable lab test services in a prompt manner.
The systems and its services would bring the forensic DNA analysis capacity to the international mark and improve the overall criminal justice system, he noted.
IGP Thapa also expressed his confidence that the instruments would also help increase drug screening capacity.
He lauded the continuous US assistance for the enhancement of the capacity of the central forensic laboratory and its development through consultations, training and equipment.
At the program, US Ambassador to Nepal Dean R. Thomson expressed his hope that the modern technology handed over today would enhance the capacity of the central forensic lab of the Nepal Police and also make crucial contributions to identify the disappeared persons.
PM Oli to raise issue about Lipulekh pass agreement during his China visit
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli will raise the issue about the Lipulekh pass agreement signed between China and India during his visit to the northern neighbor.
At a news conference organized to make public the Cabinet decisions on Wednesday, Spokesperson of the government, Prithvi Subba Gurung, shared that the Prime Minister would raise the issue about the agreement between the neighbouring countries during his participation in Sanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in China.
The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit China from August 30 to September 3.
Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Gurung, mentioned, "The agreement between Foreign Ministers of India and China is against Nepal's sovereignty. This matter will be discussed during the high-level meeting between top leaders of neighbouring countries during the SCO Summit."
Nepal and India are preparing for a sideline meeting between Prime Minister Oli and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he mentioned.
Minister Gurung opined that the Foreign Ministry on the behalf of the government of Nepal has already issued a diplomatic note about the agreement signed between foreign ministers of India and China regarding using business route via Lipulekh pass of Nepal.
Meanwhile, he stated that the government would strictly follow the policy of not adding new and big projects as well as incorporating only the possible projects in its policies, programs and budget.
