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Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has urged diplomatic missions in Nepal and the development partners to make the Nepal Investment Summit 2024 a success. The government is organizing the Summit on the 28th and 29th of this month.

Addressing the meeting of diplomatic missions and development partners in Nepal organized at Singha Durbar today, Prime Minister said the role of development partners and diplomatic missions in Nepal is important to establish Nepal as the destination of investment.

"We expect active participation in investment summit as well as support of development partners", he shared.

Stating that projects of province and local governments have given equal priority along with ministries of federal government, the Prime Minister clarified that the government is committed to ensure the environment to revise laws in order to create investment-friendly environment, procedural reforms and not to allow any obstruction for investors during project period. 

"The summit will provide a platform to connect Nepali production and service to the global market as well as make stakeholders including investors, development partners and financial institutions easy to unite, to seek opportunity and to promote long-term partnership," he said.

The government of Nepal was ready to provide any type of support needed to incumbent and possible investors, he underscored.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has suggested making the payback system for health insurance simpler so as to enhance the effectiveness of the health insurance scheme and to make it more service-oriented.

Addressing the program organized to mark the Eighth Health Insurance Day today, the PM stressed on making the joint-payment system implemented by the Health Insurance Board service-friendly.

"Provisions as online registration of membership, system for making claim at the right time and technology-friendly insurance scheme are the challenge-targeted reformative plans," he said and expressed the government's all-time commitment towards rendering Health Insurance Program meaningful and effective to fulfill the national aspiration of 'good governance, social justice and prosperity', providing the health services in an equitable manner through this program.

Stressing on the need of fulfilling the key responsibilities that the state and the service providing agencies have to discharge to enhance the attractiveness of the program, Prime Minister Dahal directed the bodies concerned to pay attention to topics like simplifying the process for the insurance policy-holders to access the services, maintaining the quality of service and rendering the service providing bodies further service-oriented, among others.

The Prime Minister emphasized on conducting an effective literacy campaign on the Health Insurance program, and on maintaining good governance and financial discipline.

Noting that the government has kept the program in high priority, he said all the health security plans would be operated through a one-door system. The PM hoped that important policy reforms like making the health insurance card mandatory for services and recommendations provided by the federal, provincial and local governments would help enhance the quantity and quality of the program.

The Head-of-Government reiterated that the program would be made attractive and effective by expanding the insurance amount and it can be developed as the 'national pride' program. He made it clear that the government would reach an appropriate conclusion on the basis of necessary study in view of the prospects of the Health Insurance Program.

In line with the concept of a welfare State, the government initiated the Health Insurance Program around the theme, 'Your Health, Our Resolve', from Kailali district on April 7, 2016. It is a State-prioritized participatory program.

According to the PM, the government is committed to making this program meaningful and effective by expanding its coverage.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Dahal handed the insurance certificate to the senior citizens of the Budhanilkantha Municipality. From today, the program has been launched in all the 753 local government units.

Chairman of the Health Insurance Board, Dr Gunaraj Lohani said that the insurance coverage has been expanded.

National Planning Commission (NPC) member Prof Dr Shivaraj Adhikari spoke on the various aspects of the health insurance program, its significance, need and reforms. He added that initiatives would be taken to make the program further simpler.

Secretary at the Ministry of Health Dr Roshan Pokharel maintained that the medicines produced in Nepal would be further systematized and managed well, and the insurance policy made refined and practical.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the precious stone quartz crystal had added a new brick in promotion of tourism in Gorkha district.

At a program organized by Gorkha Municipality to place quartz crystal at Gorkha Palace today, PM Dahal reiterated that installation of precious quartz crystal in the district of historical and archeological significance would play an important role in tourism promotion.

Expressing his confidence that the precious stone's placement would widely establish the importance and role of Gorkha, the PM instructed the concerned authorities for security arrangement of the quartz crystal and further manage the historical place.

Prior to placing the quartz crystal in the room where the throne of erstwhile King Prithvi Narayan Shah is housed, it was worshiped in the premises of the palace.

"While the precious stone is being placed in the Gorkha palace of historical and archeological importance, I got an opportunity to visit the palace premises for the first time since the declaration of the Republic of Nepal," said PM Dahal, expressing his happiness for the opportunity.

Pledging to play his part in preservation of the historicity of Gorkha, the Head of the Government shared that he had prioritized development of infrastructures such as road and bridge in the district.

He added, "The citizens of Gorkha district want to witness some historic developmental works. There is a scope to deliver on the Budhigandaki Hydropower Project, Gorakhkali rubber industry and construction of industrial park among others."

Stating the uneasiness on the part of the government to include some issues of this area in the policy and programs and budget of the current fiscal year, he assured that the new budget would be development-oriented and it would excite the citizens.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has stressed on the need of developing and implementing a timely curriculum based on innovation.

Addressing the 14th Senate Meeting of the Mid-West University, the PM called on the University to pay attention to restructuring the curriculum and the development of the physical and human resources.

"The guiding principles, policies and programs adopted by the University for attaining educational excellence, economic growth, curriculum restructuring, international relations and exchanges, and infrastructure development are also praiseworthy," he said, adding that adoption of the policy of conducting all the academic activities as per the predetermined calendar is an aspect of reform.

The PM added that the government will extend support to the University in implementing its policy of reforming the existing examination system, and conducting the examinations and publishing the results as per the academic calendar.

On the occasion, he suggested the University accorded additional priority to all the academic programs and curricula as per the changing world scenario, the national, regional and local development policies and approaches, and the demand of the labor market. 

The Head of Government expressed the commitment for cooperation on behalf of the government in formulation of the national policy and laws required for marketing, and sale and distribution of goods, services and information produced by the University's various laboratories.

Stating on the need of formulating socialism-oriented educational policy, strategy and program based on the principles of good governance and social justice as embodied by the republican state system stipulated in the Constitution, Prime Minister Dahal expressed the confidence that the University will play a positive role, encouraging the Nepali students to pursue higher studies within the country and supporting the country in attaining prosperity.

He further stressed on running academic and vocational programs based on land, water, forest, herbs and human resources, taking into consideration the geographical, social and economic condition of the entire Nepal, particularly of Karnali province, in the agriculture and forestry sciences. The PM believed that various programs and projects would be implemented synthesizing the modern and indigenous agricultural system and the knowledge skills.

He said the Mid-West University, which is established in Karnali Province that is rich in terms of cultural diversity and natural resources but lags behind in terms of physical infrastructure development, industrialization and human development index, has made important contribution to the academic progress, physical development and the promotion of work system along with information technology in a short period of its establishment.

The Investment Board Nepal (IBN) has approved investment commitments of Rs 99.20 billion for four energy projects.

The 57th meeting of the Board held today under the chair of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal made the decision to this effect.

Those projects getting the investment approvals include the 166-megawatt Super Tamor Project (34.59 billion), the 42-megawatt Upper Modi-A Project (10.08 billion), the 250-megawatt Solar Plant Kohalpur and Banganga (Risen Energy Singapore-21.10 billion) and the 139.2-megawatt Lower Manang Marsyangdi Hydro Electricity Project (33.41 billion).

According to the Board, Solar Plant Project, and the Lower Manang Marsyangdi are foreign investment projects. 

Similarly, the meeting decided to approve an additional investment of Rs 6.63 billion for the HuaXin Cement Narayani Project, Board Spokesperson Pradyumna Prasad Upadhyay.

The meeting constituted a talks team under the chair of Board's Chief Executive Officer to negotiate with proposed investors for signing of the Project Development Agreement (PDA) regarding the Upper Marsyangdi and Solar Plant.

Spokesperson Upadhyay said that the PDAs regarding these projects are likely during the upcoming Nepal Investment Summit scheduled for April 28-29.

Similarly, the deadline for a license for a survey of Solar Plant (Kohalpur and Banganga) is to be extended till the end of the current fiscal year (July 15) as per the meeting decision.

Likewise, the meeting approved the share purchase agreement of the Dang Cement Plant. The Board endorses the reclaim of around Rs 620 million from the sale of the share.

The meeting decided to give permission to a Malaysian company, ReNIKOLA, to submit a bank guarantee for issuing a study permit for the establishment of a chemical fertilizer factory.

It also decided to extend the term of the committee formed to study Tamor Reservoir Hydropower Project and the committee formed to prepare a draft of Nijgadh international airport, project development and study regarding investment model till the end of current fiscal year.

Spokesperson Upadhyay said the Board was familiarized with the issue of formation of a study committee under coordination of the Chief of Revenue Management Division of the Finance Ministry to study the matter of price adjustment as per the SJVN Arun-III Power Development Company. 

The Board took the decision that the Investment Board would remain as security trustee of co-financed investment in direct agreement of the project.

Similarly, a report submitted by a committee formed to prepare an amendment draft of Public Private Partnership and Investment Act, 2075 has been presented in the Board.

The meeting also directed to initiate an agreement process with NepWaste Pvt. Ltd to forward Integrated Waste Management Project (Package-1) of Kathmandu Valley.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said commitments made before the Parliament are being implemented in a planned way.

In today's meeting of the Public Policy and Delegated Legislation Committee of the National Assembly, Prime Minister Dahal shared that activities are underway in good governance, social justice and prosperity sectors with priority as per the government's roadmap.

"It has been easier to get different services including citizenship certificate, passport, national identity card, no-objection certificate due to improvement made in different sectors as per the determination of making the country line-free in the context of providing public service", he underscored.

PM Dahal explained that supply of chemical fertilizer has been guaranteed as per the commitment made before the Parliament and improvement has been made in the distribution system.

Sharing that activities to send textbooks in all districts on time have been started this year too as like in the previous academic session, he opined that dues of sugarcane farmers have already been paid and dairy farmers have started getting their dues.

PM Dahal further said 'Hello Sarkar' has been brought into operation round the clock to address the complaints of citizens effectively, sharing that 'time card' has been brought into practice in government services for the guarantee of easy and smooth public service and it would be expanded in all districts gradually.

"The government’s commitment to provide citizenship to those Nepali citizens deprived of it has been implemented within the six months of the assurance," Prime Minster Dahal said, adding that the government is working on the draft to have legal provisions to ensure the franchise of Nepali residing abroad.

 Stating that he has been announcing that the establishment of good governance remains the priority of the government from the parliament, the Prime Minister said," The government implements a policy of zero tolerance against corruption."        As he said, with the realization that correction should begin within the self, the quota at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has been deducted and the entity has been restructured.

Amidst this period, the government has launched investigations into the fake Bhutanese refugees, gold smuggling, Lalita Niwas, and the Bansbari land grab cases seriously and efforts have started yielding results, according to him. 

Collections of applications and the entry of data have been almost completed to address the issues of landless people and the process of presenting bills in the parliament to revise some laws requiring to provide them land has neared the final phase.

Some of the concerns raised by lawmakers over the social justice sectors have been addressed. "The victims of usury have been served justice," he added.

In the course of the government's efforts to conclude the remaining affairs of the peace process, a bill about transitional justice has been already registered in the parliament and the government commitments about disaster management are in the process of getting fulfilled.

"Especially dengue, lumpy skin and bird-flu-like pandemic diseases have been skillfully managed. The government has taken an exemplary initiative in the rescue, relief, and rehabilitation during the Jajarkot and Bajhang earthquakes. It has been ensured that the remaining reconstruction works will be completed on time," he said.

On the occasion, PM Dahal insisted that the policies and programs, and the budget for the upcoming fiscal year will be objective, implementable and production-centered in line with people's aspirations. He added that the budget will be allocated in a way that the people's problems are resolved.

According to him, the government under his leadership has from the very beginning taken initiatives for resolving the problems of the people victimized by the micro-finances and the cooperatives as well as for addressing the livelihood issues.

He also stated that some signs of improvement have been seen in the economy of late. Stating that there has been improvement in public finances, revenue and capital expenditure, the PM reiterated the government is carrying out works for bringing improvement in the overall economic indicators by formulating an action plan.

Prime Minister Dahal stressed that the government has initiated a campaign of corruption control by promoting good governance. He said necessary laws are in the process of formulation aimed at federalism implementation. In this connection, preparation is being made to table the Federal Police Bill in Parliament.

PM Dahal also reminded that problems related to federalism implementation have been resolved by convening the meeting of the Inter-Province Council twice after the formation of the government under his leadership.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that economic empowerment is the most important basis for women's empowerment.

The Prime Minister's Secretariat said that Prime Minister Dahal expressed this opinion while inaugurating the 7th International Women's Business Fair organized by the Federation of Women Entrepreneurs in Lalitpur district on Friday.

Prime Minister Dahal said, "Compared to the past, the condition of Nepali women is gradually getting stronger and better. Everyone's support is needed for women's empowerment. Therefore, in today's world, for women's empowerment, first of all, financial access must be widened." The prime minister also emphasized that the subject of empowerment is connected with power. “Empowerment is connected with power in today's world," he reiterated.

According to the PM, power is connected with economic conditions and there cannot be true empowerment without being financially empowered. He said the government has given it top priority.

The Prime Minister informed the event that tax exemption and concession programs have been conducted in the industries and businesses run by women and pledged to increase them further in the future as well.

PM Dahal said, "It is important to establish a women's entrepreneurship fund to realize the concept of supporting nation building by empowering Nepali women socially and economically through the development of women's entrepreneurship. The government has made tax breaks and other concessional arrangements to promote industries led by women entrepreneurs, which will be increased in the coming days.”

It has been more than a year since Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said concluding transitional justice is one of his key priorities. However, there has been no progress in resolving the disputes among parties regarding some contents of the transitional justice amendment bill pending in the Parliament. Parties have yet to reach a consensus on whether to categorize arbitrary killings or all killings except those resulting from clashes as serious human rights violations. Conflict victims argue that all extrajudicial killings, mental torture and physical torture should be labeled as serious violation of human rights.

While parties may differ on ways to approach these issues, it is not difficult to resolve them if there is political will and honesty among the major parties. Since the inception of the peace process in 2006, parties have used the transitional justice issue as a bargaining tool rather than making serious, sustained efforts to resolve it. Just before the recent change in the coalition government, parties told people they were in negotiation to reach consensus on contentious issues and claimed that they were close to an agreement. With the formation of the new coalition, however, parties have not touched on the issue. Previously, the CPN (Maoist Center) and CPN-UML were at loggerheads on contentious issues while the NC appeared flexible. Now, the Maoists and UML seem flexible to compromise, while the NC appears tough.

The international community is one of the major stakeholders in Nepal's transitional justice process. It has reservations about some provisions in the amendment bill. Similarly, the concerns of conflict victims must be addressed to avoid societal conflict in the future. Since it has been almost two decades since the Maoists joined the peace process, transitional justice should be accorded the highest priority. It should not be a bargaining tool for state power. As the head of the government, Dahal should make extra efforts to resolve the contentious issues. So far, it seems Dahal is seeking ways to avoid prosecuting even those involved in serious human rights violations. The issue of transitional justice can be settled easily if Maoist leaders accept the international standards and honor Supreme Court verdicts.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and the main opposition Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba held a meeting on Thursday.

During the meeting held at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar, the two leaders discussed transitional justice, smooth running of the federal parliament and other contemporary issues, said Prime Minister's press expert Manohari Timilsina.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the incumbent government was effortful to conclude the remaining works of peace process by forging a national understanding.

Meeting with the representatives of various organizations of the families of conflict-victims today in Singha Durbar, PM Dahal assured that the government was committed to comply with the court's orders regarding the issues of investigation of the disappeared persons, truth and reconciliation commission.

Dahal admitted that the transitional justice related works have not been completed despite the will of the government. According to him, there were forces which would not allow the remaining works of the peace process to be completed.

The Head of the Government informed that the government had taken forward the bills to carry out remaining works of the peace process.

Furthermore, he shared that the government was making efforts to provide employment to the family members of the conflict-victims, provide medical care for people injured in conflict and to manage housing for them.

The PM reiterated that he was committed towards maintaining lasting peace by bringing the remaining works of peace process to a logical conclusion.

Prime Minister and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba held a meeting on Tuesday night.

Congress President Deuba had reached the Prime Minister’s official residence in Baluwatar at 9:45 pm to hold a discussion with Dahal.

According to a Baluwatar source, Dahal and Deuba held a meeting for almost one hour.

“Deuba had come to meet the Prime Minister at 9:45 pm. During the meeting, they discussed TRC Bill and by-elections to be held on April 27 among other contemporary political issues,” the source said.

Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, National Assembly Parliamentary Party leader Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Prime Minister Dahal held a meeting.

After that, President Deuba along with other party leaders went to Baluwatar to meet Dahal.

On the occasion, Deuba expressed his dissatisfaction saying that he changed the alliance by not holding a serious discussion internally.

Dahal and Deuba held a meeting for the first time after the formation of a new coalition. Their meeting has been seen as meaningful.

The by-polls are being held in Ilam-2 and Bajhang Province Assembly-1 on April 27.

The CPN-UML has already made a decision to field Suhang Nembang in Ilam-2 and Damang Bhandari in Bajhang Province Assembly-1.

Other parties have not finalized the candidates for the by-elections yet.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has urged the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) to ensure a policy for providing concessional loan to Nepal. 

During a courtesy meeting with a delegation led by RMP Rathnayake, the AIIB director, the Prime Minister said, "Nepal still needs concessions in borrowings as AIIB does not have such a window. In fact, this market rate pricing is restricting Nepal to access to AIIB financing. As you are policy makers, I urge you all to consider this," according to the Prime Minister's Secretariat.

Stating the government is focused on achieving a high economic growth target simultaneously with good governance, institutional development, social justice and prosperity, the Prime Minister said, hoping for the AIIB's support in financing, technical assistance, knowledge sharing and mobilizing private capital in this process.

The PM said currently there are a few projects under AIIB investment in Nepal in the energy sector and there are ample possibilities for the investment in hydropower tourism, information technology and other infrastructure projects. He urged the AIIB to consider the investment in these areas.

"It has been agreed to export 10,000 megawatts of electricity to India and to Bangladesh as well. This has paved a way for Nepal's energy trade," he said.

Recalling Nepal's schedule to host the Third Nepal Investment Summit ( NIC) next month (April 28-29), the Prime Minister expressed his hope that there would be a high-level participation from the AIIB in the event, contributing to building an investment-friendly atmosphere for  areas of priorities in  Nepal.

Apprising the delegation that Nepal has revised its policies aiming to promote private and foreign investment, he urged the AIIB to invest confidently in Nepal.

The delegation led by Rathnayake comprised AIIB vice president and other senior officials.

On the occasion, Rathnayake said AIIB accorded top priority to Nepal as being its founding member and the Bank is positive for increasing its investment in its development endeavors.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has pledged to address the issue concerning the establishment of Shaktikhor industrial corridor in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

The PM made this promise during his meeting with a delegation led by CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli and comprising the Kalika Municipality mayor in Chitwan and others today.  The meeting was held at the Prime Minister's official residence in Baluwatar.

It may be noted that despite talks for a long time, there is no substantive progress over the establishment of an industrial corridor at Shaktikhor in Kalika Municipality. 

During the meeting, the delegation drew the Prime Minister's attention towards the need to establish the Shaktikhor industrial zone and undertake endeavors for development and prosperity of the local level, according to Mayor Binod Regmi.

In response, the head of the government assured of addressing the concern for the establishment of the corridor in the upcoming budget, directing Finance Minister Barshaman Pun to resume budget allocation for the same.

Finance Minister Pun, CPN-UML Deputy General Secretary Bishnu Rimal, central member Kapil Pokhrel, education activist Dr Baburam Dhungana and outgoing chair of the National Federation of the Deaf Nepal, KP Adhikari, were among those present in the meeting.

Matters relating to the Trishuli diversion project, equalization grant, and the establishment of an inclusive school were discussed in the meeting, according to the local representative.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli held a meeting on Friday. The Prime Minister’s Secretariat said that they held a discussion in Singha Durbar.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Dahal and UML Chairman Oli discussed Common Minimum Program, transitional justice process, by-election to be held on April 27 and House obstruction among other issues, Prime Minister Dahal’s press advisor Govinda Acharya said.

According to him, Prime Minister Dahal and Chairman Oli also discussed participating other political parties in the government.

Earlier this morning, a meeting of the four-party front was held in Baluwatar.

During the meeting, a discussion was held to include the UML in the front.

Prime Minister Dahal has been authorized to hold a discussion with Chairman Oli and to include the UML in the front.

The Prime Minister had informed Oli about this. But Oli has not given clear answer about joining the front, a source said.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said the country should give emphasis on the production of skilled human resources that meets the international standards in the health sector. There will be no compromise in the quality of the health sector.  

Addressing the 13th meeting of the Medical Education Commission today, the PM stressed on the need of producing quality human resources through an analysis of the national and international contexts and needs.

The PM viewed that there should be harmonization between the produced human resources and decent jobs.

"The Commission should be proactive in fulfilling and implementing the quality standards. Besides increasing the number of skilled human resources, fulfilling the minimum standards of teaching and learning is equally imperative and important," the PM said.

PM Dahal said Nepal's education system should be established as a center of excellence for the foreign students coming to Nepal for getting medical education.

The increasing trend of foreign students in Nepal as stated in the report of the Commission is evidence of attraction to Nepal's medical education, the PM said.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has underlined the need of eliminating all sorts of discrimination against humanity.

In his address to a function organized to mark the 59th International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination here today, the Prime Minister announced that until discrimination is not eliminated, the accomplishments of change could not be safeguarded. 

The Prime Minister said that despite the constitutional guarantee of the fundamental rights of the Dalit community, they continue to suffer from caste-based discrimination. The expected outcomes have remained unmet.

According to him, it is a matter of concern that cases of insult, suppression, exploitation, social exclusion, beating and murder against the Dalit community are not mitigated due to the social practice of caste-based discriminations.

The government head also urged one and all to contribute to eliminating all forms of bias including the gender-based and linguistic discriminations and regional suppression to build an inclusive and discrimination-free society.

Acknowledging the significant contribution of the Dalit community to bringing political transformations in the society, the Prime Minister stressed the need of mainstreaming the involvement of Dalit community in the building of a federal inclusive democratic republic and discrimination-free society along with the guarantee of a proportional representation system.

The Prime Minister asserted that it is the responsibility of the state to legally prosecute anyone indulging in caste-based discrimination and untouchability. "It is an unalienable right of every citizen to live with equality and independence. However, the Nepali society is yet to be freed from the slavery mindset in this modern era of human civilization."

He also took time to highlight the necessity of another phase of struggle for an effective implementation of the Constitutional and legal provisions that promote the rights of Dalits. PM Dahal pressed an idea of launching a social awakening and political campaign along with the strong enforcement of law to eliminate the caste-based discrimination, a crime against humanity.