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The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) on Wednesday handed over a cheque of Rs 10 million to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal as per its commitment to provide monetary assistance to the earthquake survivors in Jajarkot and Rukum West.

A delegation led by Director General of CAAN Pradeep Kumar had reached the official residence of Prime Minister in Baluwatar this morning to hand over the cheque.

The amount will be deposited in the Prime Minister Disaster Relief Fund, according to CAAN Spokesperson Jagannath Niraula.

An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale hit Jajarkot at 11:47 pm on Friday killing at least 157 people.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has issued directives for making the relief and rehabilitation for the Jajarkot earthquake victims effective.

Addressing the meeting of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management National Council held in Singha Durbar today, he instructed the bodies concerned to carry out the relief and rehabilitation operations with the necessary preparation and by taking the earthquake affected people into confidence.

PM Dahal expressed profound sorrow over the big loss of life and property caused by the earthquake and stressed on the need of utilizing the disaster as an important opportunity for reconstruction.

The 13th meeting of the Council was convened to discuss the damage caused by the devastating earthquake that hit Jajarkot and Rukum Paschim, and the steps the government needs to initiate in its aftermath.

On the occasion, the PM directed one and all to be serious on making the post-quake rescue, relief and reconstruction effective, describing the initiatives made by the three tiers of the government and other bodies immediately after the disaster as positive.

He stated that preparations have been made to carry out works in a prompt manner by restructuring the existing Acts, regulations and structures based on the good practices during the time of the 2015 Gorkha Earthquake.

"I thank all the parties, the federal government and various agencies, the provincial government and the local governments for their post-earthquake initiatives. We should have carried out work related to search, rescue and treatment yesterday, which we have basically completed. Now, we need to concentrate on relief and rehabilitation," the PM reiterated. 

He directed for managing warm clothes to the earthquake victims and for making treatment for them effective. Reminding that Nepal is a country vulnerable to natural disaster, the PM acknowledged that the government's initiatives and raising people's awareness on this have not been adequate.

"For the next three days, let us make maximum efforts for relief. Rehabilitation has to be made effective and we need the required Act, work procedure and structure for the same. The reconstruction works are not seen to be effective with the existing Act, procedures and structure. We need to make a sound review of our past experiences as well," PM Dahal reiterated.

Stating that an effective work relating to the earthquake had not taken place following the 2015 earthquake, he stressed the need for a study on the geographical condition and risks. "We must think about carrying out a geographical study and establishing human settlements. We should work to keep all required materials during disasters. Now, we store such materials. We will adopt a one-door system to distribute relief materials. We will stop misuse of relief materials. We will create an environment that reliefs are distributed through the central, provincial and local governments."

In the meeting, participants including Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Shakti Bahadur Basnet, Minister for Agriculture and Livestock Development Dr Beduram Bhusal, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Ashok Kumar Rai, Minister for Urban Development Sita Gurung, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport Prakash Jwala and Chief of the Army Staff Prabhuram Sharma commended activeness and hard work shown by PM Dahal during the quake.

"The Prime Minister himself took initiatives in rescue efforts. Rescue efforts have almost been completed. Now, there are no reports of missing people. So, our focus should be on relief distribution," said DPM Shrestha.

The PM's activeness during the disaster showed the seriousness of the government, said former minister Gangadhar Tuladhar. Claiming that all state mechanisms had been effectively deployed since the PM himself took initiatives post-disaster, minister Basnet maintained that the government was successful in reaching out and assisting the quake victims.

PM himself taking a leadership role in the rescue, relief distribution and treatment of the quake victims has spread a positive message, said minister Jwala.

Praising PM Dahal for his activeness during the disaster, Minister for Health and Population Mohan Bahadur Basnet expressed his happiness for having a responsible and active PM.

The whole state mechanism was mobilized during the disaster, said the Army Chief Sharma.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has left for the earthquake-affected areas with health workers and essential supplies.

The Prime Minister has left for the quake-hit areas with a medical team including 16 members of the Nepali Army and necessary materials for the rescue, search and relief of the earthquake survivors, according to the Prime Minister's Press Advisor Govinda Acharya.

Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Shakti Bahadur Basnet and former Finance Minister Janardan Sharma have also gone to the affected areas to coordinate rescue and relief efforts. Minister Basnet is an MP elected from Jajarkot and Sharma from Rukum West.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Dahal has said that he is deeply saddened by the loss of human lives and physical property in the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that took place at 11:47 pm on Friday with its epicenter at Ramidanda of Jajarkot.

Appealing to everyone concerned to help with the rescue and relief efforts, Prime Minister Dahal has said that all the three security agencies have been mobilized for the immediate search and rescue of those injured in the quake.

According to the Prime Minister's Secretariat, additional security personnel from all three agencies from neighboring districts including Surkhet have been mobilized in search and rescue of the quake survivors.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal held a meeting with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli in Baluwatar on Wednesday.

Prime Minister Dahal held talks with Deuba and Oli for almost two hours to forge consensus on the transitional justice issues.

The transitional justice Act is in the Human Rights Committee of the Parliament.

The Committee has forged consensus in almost all the issues by forming a sub-committee.

The sub-committee has prepared a report on consensus.

The issues that need to be resolved at the political level are only left to the settled down.

Congress Publicity Department Chief Min Bishwokarma and UML Whip Mahesh Kumar Bartaula have been claiming that the issues at the political level are only left to be resolved.

The UML has claimed that the decision of Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s decision to celebrate the day the war started as People’s War Day has left the conflict victims in the lurch.

During this stay in Nepal, United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres had mounted diplomatic pressure on the government and political parties to conclude the peace process.

On Sunday, during a meeting with Guterres, UML Chairman Oli said that the peace process could not reach a logical conclusion due to the Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Dahal.

Oli had said that the UML wants the United Nations to take the peace process to its logical conclusion.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has reached Lumbini, the birth place of Buddha, to welcome United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres. The United Nations Secretary General will visit Lumbini today.

The UN high official, who is on a four-day official visit to Nepal, is arriving here from Pokhara.

After arriving in Lumbini, Guterres will be escorted in a car from Lumbini Gate No 4 up to the Peace Lamp site.

Sanu Raja Shakya, the Member-Secretary of the Lumbini Development Trust (LDT), said that the Buddhist abbots, vikkhus, priests, nuns from the monasteries and the local mothers’ groups, various community groups including the indigenous Tharu and the hotel entrepreneurs at the Lumbini Sanskritik Municipality will welcome the UN Secretary-General from the Shanti Deep (peace lamp) to the Mayadebi Temple, lining up on both sides of the route. 

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Sudan Kirati, Chief Minister of Lumbini Province Dil Bahadur Chaudhary and LDT officials will also be there to welcome the visiting UN dignitary.

Minister Kirati and Chief Minister Chaudhary arrived here on Monday itself.

It has been learnt that Guterres will give a message of world peace from the Buddha's birthplace. He will plant a sapling in Lumbini.  Secretary General Guterres will leave here for Kathmandu at 10.30 am.

LDT senior director Gyanin Rai said the UN Secretary-General's visit to the world heritage site, Lumbini, will give further publicity to the Buddha's birthplace and his message of peace. It will also help promote tourism in Lumbini.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres’s four-day official visit to Nepal would contribute to further strengthening Nepal's relations with the United Nations and international community.

Talking to the media following his meeting with UN Secretary General Guterres at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers this afternoon, the Prime Minister said that the visit would play a crucial role in further consolidating Nepal's ties with the international community.

"We discussed various matters of bilateral interest and national and international concerns in a very cordial atmosphere," the Prime Minister said, adding that they primarily focused on the issues of climate change.

During the high-level meeting, the Prime Minister applauded the role of Guterres as the UN Secretary General in mitigating the climate change impact. 

Nepal anticipated further bilateral and multilateral support from the UN and other international agencies in its efforts to address climate change, according to PM Dahal.  He also assured the UN Secretary-General that Nepal's peace process would reach a conclusion soon, expecting the role on the part of Guterres towards that end.

The meeting also delved into Nepal's economic development and prosperity, with Dahal urging the UN Secretary General to facilitate Nepal's transition to a developing nation and assist in achieving sustainable development goals.

According to the Prime Minister, the meeting was highly positive. 

"The UN Secretary-General is well aware of Nepal's political dynamics and peace process. He also acknowledged Nepal's contributions to the world peacekeeping mission. We also sought recognition in regard with our involvement towards that end."

The Prime Minister is hosting a cultural function followed by a dinner in honor of the UN Secretary-General this evening.

During the trip concluding on November 1, the UN Secretary-General is scheduled to visit Namche in Solukhumbu, Pokhara, Annapurna Base Camp and Lumbini as well. 

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has sought help of the United Nations to conclude the peace process in Nepal.

During a meeting with United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Prime Minister Dahal said that the role of the United Nations will be important in concluding the peace process in Nepal.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister said that the peace process in Nepal is at the stage of completion and the support of the United Nations is necessary for the same.

United Nations Secretary General Guterres and Prime Minister held the meeting at the latter’s office.

In the meeting, the Prime Minister said, “The role of the United Nations will be important in concluding the peace process in Nepal. The bill related to transitional justice has been registered in Parliament. The bill could not move forwards due to differences among the political parties.”

In response, Secretary General Guterres said that the United Nations will support Nepal to conclude peace process in accordance with international standards

Prime Minister Dahal has intensified discussions with the political parties to conclude the peace process in Nepal.

At the invitation of Prime Minister Dahal, the Secretary General arrived in Nepal on a four-day official visit on Saturday.

Kathmandu: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the main opposition leader, CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli, had a meeting on Friday at the Prime Minister’s Office in Singha Durbar. They discussed two important issues: the upcoming visit of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Nepal and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Bill.

Guterres is scheduled to visit Nepal on Oct 29 and will address a joint meeting of the Federal Parliament on Oct 31. Prime Minister Dahal aims to pass the transitional justice bill before Guterres’ arrival, but this requires the support of the main opposition. 

While there is agreement on most aspects of the bill, the major point of contention is the provision granting immunity to individuals accused of murder, considering murder as a human rights violation. The government is attempting to address issues related to murder through reconciliation. They plan to reclassify murder as a human rights violation rather than a serious crime, which has the support of the Congress and Maoists in the ruling coalition. However, UML has not accepted this change.

UML whip Mahesh Bartaula says they are open to reaching an agreement on the bill before the UN Secretary-General’s visit, but he accuses the government of creating tension instead of cooperation. “Prime Minister Dahal’s decision to grant a holiday on People’s War Day contributes to this tension,” he says.

A sub-committee under the Law, Justice, and Human Rights Committee has prepared a report on amending the ‘Bill to amend the Commission for Investigation of Disappeared Persons, Truth and Reconciliation Act’ through consensus over the past month and a half. Bartaula, a member of the sub-committee, says most issues have been resolved, except for the topic of reconciliation in cases of serious incidents like murder.

UML’s stance is to not use reconciliation to absolve individuals of murder except in cases of double confrontations. They argue that such cases should be prosecuted. 

The issue of child soldiers during the armed conflict is another concern. While an agreement refers to these children as “connected parties of the conflict”, UML believes this issue is being unnecessarily prolonged for political reasons and calls for additional discussions.

Chair of the Human Rights Committee and CPN (Maoist Center) leader Bimala Subedi expressed optimism that the bill will move forward, emphasizing the need for consensus to resolve this sensitive issue. She highlighted the importance of political-level consensus, as it’s a long-standing matter. 

Four issues remain to be discussed within the committee, and Subedi believes that a positive environment for resolution is now present, especially following the meeting between the Prime Minister and the main opposition leader. 

Prime Minister Dahal had previously attempted to pass this bill in time he went to the United Nations General Assembly—to no avail.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has briefed the Cabinet meeting today about the health condition of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha.

In a cabinet meeting held at Singha Durbar, Prime Minister Dahal briefed about the health condition of DPM Shrestha, shared Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Rekha Sharma. DPM Shrestha is on an official visit to China.

The Deputy Prime Minister suffered a mild heart attack on Wednesday night. He is receiving treatment at Peking Union Medical College in Beijing.

Also the spokesperson of the government, Minister Sharma, said DPM Shrestha is out of danger. "Prime Minister Dahal has been enquiring about Shrestha's health condition with the Nepali Ambassador to China. DPM Shrestha will stay in Beijing for a few days for treatment," said Minister Sharma.

Similarly, the Cabinet has given permission in principle to formulate a draft of the bill designed to make arrangements regarding the National Human Rights Commission.

The meeting also extended best wishes among all Nepalis in the country and abroad on the occasion of national festivals-- Dashain, Tihar, Nepal Sambat and Chhath.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s recent visit to China has significant implications for Nepal’s foreign policy. This visit comes at a crucial time, coinciding with the Asian Games, and highlights Nepal’s evolving foreign policy and its intricate relationship with its northern neighbor. Due to the internal conflicts and a political opportunity resulting from the dissolution of the Parliament in July 2021, Dahal transitioned an alliance with the then NCP leader KP Sharma Oli to the Nepali Congress, signaling a noteworthy shift in Nepal’s political landscape, with far-reaching implications for foreign policy. Both domestic and international factors drive this realignment. It raises questions about Nepal’s relationships with major global players, particularly China and India, as well as its standing in the global arena and the geopolitics of South Asia.

A complex relationship

Dynamic shifts and fluctuations have marked a complex relationship between Dahal and China. At the outset of his first term as prime minister in 2008, Dahal established a strong alliance with Beijing, marked by reciprocal support. However, the course of their engagement has been far from steady. In the lead-up to the 2022 elections, Dahal formed an electoral alliance with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli-led NCP to consolidate political power. Unfortunately, this alliance proved short-lived and ultimately resulted in a dramatic political split, strained Dahal’s relations with Oli and China, which had firmly supported the Oli-led government. This nuanced history illustrates the intricacies of Dahal’s interactions with China, showcasing the challenges and fluctuations in their relationship over the years.

A balancing act

Dahal’s recent move toward a closer alignment with the United States and India signifies Nepal’s deliberate pursuit of a balanced foreign relations strategy. His choice of India as his first official visit during his third tenure as prime minister earlier in the year demonstrates a clear intent to strengthen ties with that country. However, this diplomatic realignment is driven by the imperative to adapt to evolving global dynamics and safeguard Nepal’s sovereignty, given the complex interests of its more powerful neighbors. Rooted in Nepal’s enduring struggle for independence and its aspirations on the global stage, this commitment to a delicate equilibrium reflects the nation’s historical context. As a landlocked nation located between regional giants, Nepal’s leaders face the ongoing challenge of skillfully managing these relationships to protect their country’s interests and secure its continued independence in the international arena.

Chinese interests

China’s interests in Nepal are multifaceted and rooted in its broader geopolitical objectives. One key aspect is Nepal’s adherence to the one-China policy, which aligns with China’s core interests regarding Taiwan and Tibet. This alignment is crucial for China’s territorial integrity. Additionally, China seeks Nepal’s support in international diplomacy, development and security initiatives. Furthermore, Nepal’s involvement in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) theoretically offers China a pathway to expand its regional economic influence and infrastructure.  However, the nine BRI projects signed in Nepal have yet to materialize, partly due to uncertainties surrounding their funding modalities. Strengthening connectivity with Nepal is a strategic avenue for China to extend its influence into South Asia, bolstering its regional presence.

Lastly, China’s ambition to cultivate a trusted and ‘strategic’ relationship with Nepal, as articulated by President Xi Jinping during his visit to Nepal in 2019, has remained a blueprint to direct China’s engagements in Nepal. Nevertheless, Nepal faces the challenge of balancing these multifaceted interests while safeguarding its sovereignty and national interests, demanding adept negotiation skills and a nuanced approach to harmonize democratic principles with its stance on the one-China policy, reflecting a delicate nature of Nepal’s relationship with its influential northern neighbor.

A ceremonial visit

While presented as an effort to strengthen Nepal-China relations, Dahal’s recent visit to China appeared more ceremonial than substantive. Despite engaging with high-ranking Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping, and signing 12 agreements, the visit faced limited diplomatic expectations. There was widespread anticipation for Dahal to advocate Nepal’s national interests, particularly concerning the recent contentious Chinese map affecting Nepali territory. The joint statement of the visit primarily consisted of diplomatic pleasantries and reaffirmations of historical ties, with Nepal restating its commitment to the one-China policy but failing to secure reciprocal assurances regarding its concerns. While there were some encouraging elements in the agreements, such as border point reopenings and cooperation in sectors like the BRI, connectivity networks and renewable energy projects, the absence of a much-awaited Project Implementation Plan Agreement and the failure to convert the loan for Pokhara International Airport into a grant were notable misses for Nepal. While potentially financially challenging, Dahal’s commitment to exploring the feasibility of the Jilong/Keyrung-Kathmandu Cross-Border Railway was a notable development.

Dahal’s prioritization of the Global Development Initiative (GDI) over Global Security Initiative (GSI) and Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) underscores Nepal’s cautious and balanced approach to international security matters. This stance reflects Nepal’s commitment to avoiding entanglement in major power rivalries and safeguarding its sovereignty. Nepal aims to maintain stability in a volatile region by emphasizing development over security, in line with its historical stance of neutrality and non-alignment. The visit ultimately became a standard bilateral exchange; ambitious agreements hold promise, but their impact on the ground level has been limited, reflecting their token nature. 

The way forward

As Prime Minister Dahal’s visit to China marks a pivotal moment for Nepal’s foreign policy, the nation stands at a critical juncture, given its evolving political landscape and changing alliances with regional and international powers. Navigating this landscape requires strategic diplomacy to safeguard Nepal’s sovereignty. Success hinges on the effective execution of agreements and carefully evaluating their implications, shaping Nepal’s foreign policy trajectory to align with its national interests and global aspirations while fostering confidence-building measures with China.

The author is a recent graduate with a Master’s degree in International Relations from South Asian University, New Delhi and is a junior researcher at the Centre for Social Inclusion and Federalism in Lalitpur, Nepal

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal may not have any imminent threats to his government, but things are not smooth either. There are strong voices inside the Nepali Congress, key coalition ally in the Dahal-led government, that the party should reconsider its alliance with the CPN (Maoist Center). 

Recently, a faction within the NC urged the party president, Sher Bahadur Deuba, to reevaluate the alliance with the Maoists. Leaders warned Deuba that Dahal may not hand over the government reins without the guarantee of another electoral alliance. 

Dahal’s only consolation is that Deuba is still in favor of maintaining the current coalition. 

Voices within the NC are also suggesting that the party should consider joining forces with the main opposition, CPN-UML, instead. Proponents of this alliance argue that the coming together of the two largest parties would diminish the bargaining power of smaller political parties and provide a stronger government capable of amending laws and implementing necessary reforms.

People are growing increasingly frustrated with major political parties due to the government's perceived inability to deliver on its promises. Many believe that the country's overall situation, including its economic prospects, could improve if the two major parties united.

Political analyst Puranjan Acharya, who has close ties with NC leader Shekhar Koirala, says that there are strong internal calls within the party to detach from the current coalition. However, Deuba remains optimistic that Dahal will eventually transfer power to him, and this optimism has hindered substantial discussions with the UML regarding a potential new government.

UML leaders believe that Deuba is being influenced by Prime Minister Dahal and are hesitant to engage in discussions about national politics. As for Deuba and UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, they rarely sit for bilateral talks.

The relationship between Deuba and Shekhar Koirala is also deteriorating, with Koirala becoming a vocal critic of the Dahal-led government. A few days back, Koirala accused Prime Minister Dahal of fueling communal violence by supporting identity-based politics. He said that Dahal had a couple of months to mend ways to end anarchy.  And on Monday, Koirala warned Prime Minister Dahal and Defense Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka against politicizing the Nepal Army. 

Koirala's faction has even defied Deuba and forged an alliance with the UML in Koshi province, which has remained unstable since the previous election. Koirala has the support of nine provincial assembly members in Koshi, which is too little to form a government. But he worked with the UML to make Kedar Karki the chief minister of the province. 

Karki was appointed the new chief minister of Koshi province with backing from 47 lawmakers—39 from UML and eight from the NC.  To achieve this, Koirala, Minendra Rijal and other Congress leaders had worked very hard. 

Deuba had supported the Maoist candidate. With the backing of leaders like Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Purna Bahadur Khadka, Deuba had even threatened to hand over the chief minister’s post to the Maoist party if his choice of candidate is not allowed to become the chief minister.

The developments in Koshi have reverberated within the federal government, leading to a joint meeting between Dahal, Deuba and Koirala, which resulted in an agreement to accept Karki as the chief minister of the coalition.

A written agreement among three leaders says: “We are firm and clear toward the current power alliance and we will not allow this alliance to weaken under any circumstances.”  The agreement, at least for now, has saved the alliance at the center. 

The UML also  appears positive on welcoming NC in the provincial government, but the party will not entertain other parties including CPN (Maoist Center). It has warned of withdrawing the support to Karki if any other party joins the provincial government.

While it has become clear that Koirala seeks to oust the Dahal-led government, he currently lacks the support within the party to make a decisive move. However, he is gaining ground within the party to challenge Deuba's dominance.

Koirala needs the support of Congress General Secretary Gagan Thapa to challenge Deuba, who controls the Parliamentary Party and Central Working Committee. Despite internal divisions, both Koirala and Thapa are united in their stance against forming an electoral alliance with the Maoist party in upcoming local and national elections.

Although the situation in Koshi province may not have an immediate impact on the central coalition, Acharya says, the growing dissatisfaction within the Congress could potentially lead to the emergence of a new coalition in the coming months.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the government is ready to form a high-level mechanism for addressing problems seen in the economy at present.

The Prime Minister said this while addressing the 'National Economic Debate' organized by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) here today. On the occasion, the PM said the government is ready to form such a mechanism as proposed by the private sector.

"It is required that all sectors are at one place and there is a centralized expression for improving the economy. We need this kind of mechanism as we need suggestions and guidelines to initiate a new dimension for economic reforms," the PM said, adding that the efforts for improving the economy could be started from this very point. He asserted that the government is ready to make such a mechanism as proposed by the private sector.

Chairperson of the Dialogue and FNCCI president Chandra Prasad Dhakal had proposed making the high-level mechanism for improving the country's economy and the PM, who addressed the program after this, agreed to the proposal.

Stating that the government is about to take a 'bold decision' for economic reforms, PM Dahal opined that improvement of the overall economy would not be possible through 'minor operation'.

"The main problem of the economy is not resolved despite taking the path of reform. Pathwork-type reforms are not adequate and there needs to be a policy shift," he reiterated. The PM also shared on the occasion that the government has made long efforts to have a synchronization of the finance policy and the monetary policy.

He also claimed that the overall economic situation of the nation could not improve if the government did not facilitate the private sector in their business enterprises. The PM reiterated that Nepal itself will take decisions as to how the problems seen in the country's economy are addressed.

The Prime Minister said the government would restructure the nation's economy through the next fiscal year's annual policies and programs.

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ramesh Rijal said that the citizen's morale has been down due to the narrative that is being fomented forcefully that the economy is in the doldrums. He said this narrative should be shattered.

According to him, although the economy is not growing at present, it is not slumping either. "It would create even more problems if the narrative that the country is crisis-hit is spread," he said and called for the united efforts of all sectors, including the private sector in improving the economy.

FNCCI president Dhakal spoke at length highlighting the condition of the economy, calling for urgent action with the government and the private sectors working together to improve it.

Chief economic advisor of the Ministry of Finance Poshraj Pandey said the current critical economic problem was a continuation of problems that piled up in the past.

Stating that there was no uniformity about the present economic situation (the private sector points out economic problems, but the government denies it), economist Dr Achyut Wagle stressed the need for bringing out facts about the current economic situation.

President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajendra Malla called for the government to bring the monetary policy that suits the goals of economic growth.

Vice President of the Confederation of Nepalese Industries Birendra Raj Pandey said the time has come to restructure Nepal's economy.

Similarly, President of the Federation of Nepalese Industries and Commerce Khimlal Bhandari pointed out structural problems in Nepal's economy.

President of the Federation of Nepali Cottage and Small Industries Umesh Prasad Singh ruled that there was no recognition of the contribution of cottage and small to the country's economy.

Also, General Secretary of the Federation of Nepalese National Industry and Enterprises Bhagirath Sapkota viewed that the state should recognize the role of cottage and small industries for building socialism-oriented society as envisioned by the constitution of Nepal. Industry friendly laws are also required, he added.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal held talks with a Nepali student taking shelter in a bunker in Israel.

He held a discussion with Bipin Subedi, one of the students who had gone to Israel from Sudurpaschim University to pursue higher studies, virtually.

While holding a conversation, the executive head of the state told Subedi that a meeting of the Council of Ministers has been summoned today itself to discuss the matter, and the issue would also be put up in the all-party meeting.

Subedi urged the Prime Minister to carry out rescue operations at the earliest.

Forty-nine students of Sudurpaschim University had gone to Israel. Among them 10 students including seven of Sudurpachim have lost their lives in the attack by Hamas, the Foreign Ministry said.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has summoned a special meeting of the Council of Ministers for 4 pm today to discuss the latest developments in Israel and the situation of the Nepali community there.

The meeting aims to assess the situations in the aftermath of an unprecedented attack on Israel and the subsequent developments, evaluate the situation of the Nepali community in Israel, diplomatic efforts that the government is expected to take to ensure their safe arrival and other technical managerial issues, according to the Prime Minister's Secretariat.

Likewise, the Prime Minister has called an all-party meeting at 5pm today to discuss the same issue.

The government on Sunday formed the mechanism to comprehensively monitor the situation, evaluate the developments and assess the situation of the Nepali community in Israel and to undertake decisions if rescue is required and coordinate any related efforts.

Earlier on Sunday, Nepali Embassy in Israel had said that 10 Nepali students enrolled in educational institutions in the southern region of Israel had died following the deadly terrorist attack by Hamas, the Palestinian group.

The embassy had said that four Nepalis were injured and are receiving treatment at a local hospital while one is still missing.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has announced to provide relief to Bajhang earthquake victims.

The Prime Minister, who had reached Bajhang to inspect the quake-hit areas, announced to provide Rs 50, 000 to construct temporary houses to the families whose houses were completely destroyed in the earthquake.

Similarly, the Prime Minister has announced to provide Rs 200, 000 to the family of a man who died after being trapped in the landslide following the earthquake.

He said that Rs 15, 000 to 20, 000 immediate relief expenses will be provided to other families affected by the earthquake based on the number of the family members.

The Prime Minister has also announced to provide relief materials like tents, blankets, medicine, food, clothing, and materials needed by differently-abled people.

He said that the materials will be arranged in coordination with the three levels of government.

Prime Minister Dahal said that the arrangements will be made to provide free treatment to the injured and the government offices, community buildings and schools damaged in the earthquake will be reconstructed soon.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) funded projects have paved the way for new opportunities in areas of economic cooperation between Nepal and the US.

He also expressed his hopes of enhancing trade connectivity for Nepal throughout Asia, and that the effective implementation of the compact’s projects would contribute significantly to Nepal's economic development and poverty reduction. He appreciated the US Government for continued cooperation and assistance.  Speaking at a program to celebrate the launch of the MCC-Nepal compact, PM Dahal and senior leaders expressed their full-commitment to expedite the implementation of MCC projects.

The five-year program was launched on 30 Aug 2023, with an Entry into Force (EIF) letter exchange between Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat and MCC Vice-president-Compact Operations Cameron Alford. The project will have to be completed within the next four years and six months.   

EIF is an important milestone for MCC compacts as it marks the fulfillment of necessary conditions and sufficient preparations to ensure successful completion of compact projects within a five-year timeline. Minister Mahat expressed his belief that the MCC Nepal Compact’s projects will support Nepal’s growth and benefit the people of Nepal through better roads and more reliable electricity.

In her remarks, MCC CEO Albright said: “We worked with the Government of Nepal to set ambitious goals with this program in order to achieve great things with the people of Nepal. We stand ready to be a steadfast partner and have full confidence in the leadership of the Government of Nepal and their implementing agency, MCA-Nepal.”

“We are ready to face the inevitable challenges together and deliver a successful program,” US Ambassador Dean R Thompson added that “the MCC-Nepal Compact is another in a long line of important US initiatives supporting economic growth for the Nepali people and marks yet another significant milestone in the 76-year long friendship between Nepal and the United States.”

During her three-day visit, MCC CEO Albright met with key government officials and stakeholders in the implementation of the Compact, attended a tree-planting ceremony to emphasize the importance MCC places on environmental protection and climate preservation, and observed ongoing work with the Department of Roads in training engineers to use climate-smart, sustainable technology to create a safer transportation network that is easier to maintain and better for the environment.  

Highlighting the Compact’s aim to foster inclusive economic growth for the people of Nepal, MCC CEO Albright also met with women executives who shared with her their experiences, work, and hopes for a more prosperous Nepal.

The GoN and MCC signed the MCC Nepal Compact on 14 Sept 2017 for two projects, the Electricity Transmission Project and the Road Maintenance Project, which will result in more reliable electricity and more cost-effective transportation in Nepal.

Alice Albright, chief executive officer of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, is confident that two vital projects—a transmission line’s construction and road upgrades—under MCC Nepal Compact will be completed within the five-year deadline. Initiated in August, just four years and 11 months remain to meet this goal.  

In an exclusive conversation with a select group of journalists, Albright highlighted that the top leaders of Nepal’s three major political parties—CPN (Maoist Center), Nepali Congress, and CPN-UML—stand firmly in favor of these projects’ execution. After meetings with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, she said that she received their unequivocal commitment to removing any obstacles that might hinder the progress of these projects. 

During the press conference, senior officials from MCA-Nepal reported that they have not encountered any major challenges in the field during the project’s implementation.

Highlights

• Investment $500m from the United Nations and $197 from Nepal
• Electricity transmission project: Up to 66 percent Nepal homes and businesses will gain better access to clean Nepali hydropower
• Road maintenance project: Up to 130 km cost-effective, safer, climate sustainable roads along national highways
• Introduction of innovative, sustainable full depth reclamation and superpave asphalt technology for road maintenance