Kathmandu, Oct. 8
Prime Minister Sushila Karki has directed Nepal’s
ambassadors and heads of missions abroad to prioritise five key areas to
navigate the nation's political transition and address the fallout from recent Gen
Z unrest.
In her address to them on Wednesday, she laid
out her immediate strategic mandate, focusing on the recent political shift,
upcoming general election, managing fund for reconstruction, revitalising
tourism and investment and enhancing citizen services.
Stating that Nepal is currently at a
critical political juncture and the role to be played by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and its subordinate bodies is significant, PM Karki said
that it is essential to inform all stakeholders, including government bodies in
the countries where the diplomats and representatives are resident and
concurrently accredited, about the immense scale of the recent movement in
Nepal, the public's desire for change, and the priorities of the interim
government.
She stressed the importance of holding the upcoming
General Election on 5 March 2026. "The bedrock of democracy is a free,
fair, and fear-free election, and the current government is resolute and
committed to this principle. Should we require specific technical or other
assistance from a friendly nation, we will notify you separately and swiftly,"
said PM Karki.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has
begun preparations for international election observation, in line with
international practice. PM Karki said that the missions will need to maintain
contact and coordinate with the relevant parties on these issues. "We are
also working on allowing Nepali citizens temporarily abroad to vote in the
election and are seeking information and suggestions on how to best facilitate
their participation," she said.
Likewise, PM Karki directed the Nepali
missions abroad to actively disseminate the information about the need of
support for the infrastructure damaged during the movement and make sure that
the support is provided to the Physical Infrastructure Reconstruction Fund established
by the government to support relief, reconstruction, and economic revival.
According to her, the purpose of operating
this official fund is to ensure the correct, transparent, and proper
utilisation of resources, preventing parallel, non-transparent fundraising and
potential misuse.
Similarly, the recent movement has
negatively impacted Nepal's tourism sector. Hotel bookings, which should be
around 70 per cent of capacity during the high season month of October, have
currently dropped to around 30 per cent. In this regard, it is essential to
inform all concerned parties that the situation in Nepal has returned to normal
and that economic activities, including tourism, trade, and investment, have
resumed their previous momentum, stated PM Karki.
On the occasion, she demanded the Nepali
envoys and representatives abroad to enhance
service delivery to the migrant workers and to safeguard their dignity,
honour and rights.
"Millions of Nepali citizens are
currently abroad for work. As the flow of people going abroad increases, so
does the volume of work related to Nepalis overseas," she said.
“Following the movement, there are elevated
public expectations for efficient, impartial, transparent, accountable,
unbiased, technology-friendly, and effective service delivery and performance.
We cannot shirk our public and legal responsibilities,” maintained PM Karki.
She informed that the MoFA and its
departments are actively working on problems arising from the misuse of visit
visas and matters requiring coordination with other bodies. "While
challenges certainly exist, new opportunities have also emerged for a country
like Nepal. Therefore, it is essential that we conduct even more effective
diplomacy and demonstrate greater proactivity, keeping the national interest at
the forefront," she said.
PM Karki also said that the country must
further strengthen its cooperative ties with friendly nations and enhance
collaboration with multilateral and regional organisations for the smooth
transition to the developing nation from the Least Developed Country in 2026
and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
She stressed on mutually beneficial
cooperation, sustainable investment, and shared prosperity.
Stating that the foremost priority of this
government is the election, PM Karki expressed her commitment to establishing
the highest standards of good governance in the country. "It is with this
commitment that I expect all of you to carry out your duties. Any behaviour
that compromises your duty and integrity will not be tolerated," she
warned.
The demands of the Gen Z youth relate to
the political, economic, and overall governance structure and are often
far-reaching in nature, she informed.
No comments:
Post a Comment