'Old baggage refers to freeing diplomacy from internal divide'

Kathmandu, Sept. 15

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has said that the government is fully committed to conducting Nepal’s foreign policy with the country’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security and long-term national interests at its core.

Addressing the House of Representatives (HoR) on Tuesday, he said his remark during his visit to India that the 'current government has no old baggage' referred to freeing foreign policy and diplomacy from the internal political polarisation and narrow political weaponisation seen in the past. He stressed that the remark was not directed at Nepal’s history, national legacy, sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, national interests or the preservation of historical state documents.

Lawmaker Sita Thapaliya had asked what the remark meant, which decisions of previous governments constituted 'baggage', whether the decision to incorporate the map covering Lipulek, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura into the constitution was considered 'old baggage', and what mistakes had been made in previous governments’ foreign policies.

In response, FM Khanal said his 'old baggage' remark during the India visit needed to be understood in its proper context and diplomatic sense. He said the term 'baggage' naturally carries a negative connotation, referring to burdens or obstacles from the past.

"My remark was intended to convey that the government wanted to move away from internal political polarisation and the parochial political weaponisation of foreign policy and diplomacy," he reiterated.

He said it would be an exaggeration to interpret the remark as being contrary to the continuity of the state and government or the state’s legacy.

According to him, the 'baggage' of the past, referred to the improper practice of using relations with neighbouring countries as instruments for domestic political gain or loss, which the current government was determined to abandon.

FM Khanal further said that the remark was not directed at Nepal’s glorious history, national legacy, sovereignty, territorial integrity, independence, protection of national interests or preservation of historical state documents.

"Nepal’s political map incorporating Lipulek, Kalapani and Limpiyadhura, and the constitutional amendment endorsing the map, represented a unanimous decision of parliament and a shared national commitment of the Nepali people," he maintained.

He said the current government wanted to give Nepal’s relations with neighbouring and friendly countries a transformative direction based on mutual equality, respect, trust and economic partnership, without being constrained by prejudice, narrowness or unnecessary distrust.

“Achieving the country’s economic prosperity through clear, mature and results-oriented diplomacy while placing national interests above all else is the clear vision of the current government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” Khanal said.

He said Nepal had always accorded high priority to relations with its neighbours and friendly countries, adding that high-level visits played an important role in strengthening bilateral ties. 

Published in The Rising Nepal on 16 September 2026.    

Parties to form panel to probe ‘cooling off’ provision tampering in Civil Service Bill

Kathmandu, July 5

A seven-member special parliamentary committee is to be formed to investigate alleged manipulation and irregularities in the cooling-off period provision of the Federal Civil Service Bill, 2080.

The decision was made during a meeting held on Saturday among the chief whips of various political parties, and chaired by Speaker Devraj Ghimire. Chief Whip of the CPN-UML, Mahesh Bartaula, confirmed the agreement to form the special committee.

According to Rule 180 of the House of Representatives Regulations, 2075, the special committee will include two members each from the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, and one member each from the CPN (Maoist Centre), Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP).

The committee will be led by a representative from the Nepali Congress, according to Bartaula.

The names of the committee members will be announced in the meeting of the House of Representatives scheduled for Monday. The upcoming session of Parliament will endorse the decision to form the committee, which will then be granted 15 days to conduct its investigation and study.

The original bill tabled at the Parliament had a mandatory cooling-off period for civil servants before they could enter politics or accept political appointments after their retirement or resignation. But when it was passed, the provision had been changed weakening it significantly by allowing the retired civil servants to hold the public and constitutional posts.

The formation of the probe committee has come after the ratified bill drew widespread criticism from the lawmakers, civil society and media.

The committee is expected to identify how the changes occurred and who was responsible, and recommend corrective measures and actions. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 6 July 2025.   

Nepal increased diplomatic engagements: FM Dr. Rana

 Kathmandu, June 13

Foreign Minister Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba has said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has increased diplomatic ‘engagements’ through proactive diplomacy, and this is expected to yield positive outcomes in the country’s foreign relations.

While briefing the International Relations and Tourism Committee of the Federal Parliament regarding the ministry's activities on Friday, she informed that since her appointment as Foreign Minister, she has intensified diplomatic engagements with Nepal’s friendly nations and the international community.

 “Diplomacy is a process. Its results are not immediate. We are making efforts to establish Nepal’s agenda through increased participation and engagement in the global community, international forums, and bilateral and multilateral meetings. I am confident that the results will be favourable,” FM Dr. Rana said, according to a statement issued by the MoFA.

In response to questions from the Members of Parliament, she mentioned that by organising the Sagarmatha Dialogue, Nepal has succeeded in bringing its agenda to the attention of the global community.

Likewise, informing that the action plan passed through the Sagarmatha Dialogue will be promoted at COP30 and other upcoming international climate-related events, she said that the participation of neighbouring countries, including India and China, along with various other countries and international organisations, as well as their commitment to support Nepal’s agenda, is a diplomatic achievement for Nepal.

The Foreign Minister also informed that coordination was underway with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security regarding Nepali citizens who reached foreign countries illegally or whose destinations are not officially recognised for foreign employment.

Minister Dr. Rana also said that teams providing passport and consular services have been deployed to deliver essential services to Nepali citizens residing in any part of the world. From mid-December 2024 to mid-April 2025, a total of 457,168 passports were issued by the Department of Passports. During this period, additional mobile teams were also deployed to provide passport services in Romania, Poland, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Malaysia, and Japan.

She further informed that, in order to enhance and expand Nepal’s foreign policy and to provide necessary consular services to Nepali citizens in light of various global developments, staffing positions have been increased through an organisational and management survey with proper human resource arrangements.

According to her, due to changes in the global political landscape, the modalities of international cooperation are also evolving, and therefore Nepal must consider these changes while undertaking its diplomatic initiatives.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 14 June 2025. 

A bill to separate aviation regulator and service provider reaches HoR

Kathmandu, Apr. 27

Of the two bills registered in the House of Representatives by the government to separate the aviation regulator and service provider, the Nepal Civil Aviation Authority Bill has progressed through the parliamentary process.

On Sunday, the HoR approved the process for registering amendments to the bill. Members of Parliament will now be able to propose amendments, for which they will have a 72-hour window.

However, the Air Services Authority Bill, the second of the two, has not progressed further in the House following its presentation.

The amendment process was approved based on a proposal by the Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey.

The government brought forward the bill to split the current Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) into two separate entities. The bill was originally registered on February 2 this year. This is the second time the government has introduced the bill in the Parliament.

Earlier, in March 2020, the bill had been registered in the National Assembly of the Federal Parliament and was passed in September 2022. However, as it was still under consideration when the tenure of the HoR expired, it became defunct.

There has long been debate over the need to separate the regulatory and service-providing roles in the aviation sector. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), through its 2009 Universal Safety Audit Programme, had questioned the dual role of the current authority.

Since then, ICAO has consistently recommended the formation of two distinct bodies. The most recent audit in 2022 also advised separating the regulator from the service provider.

The government had initially brought forward the bill five years ago, citing potential conflicts of interest when both functions are housed within a single authority. Despite the National Assembly passing the bill amidst various pressures, the HoR was unable to move the process forward for a long time.

The bill passed by the Upper House on September 17, 2022, became inactive while still under consideration. Nepal has also remained on the European Union’s aviation safety list, which bars Nepali aviation companies from flying in the European sky for an extended period.

Under the proposed bill, the Authority will act as the regulator. It will have the power to issue, renew, suspend, and revoke certificates for service provider organisations. The governing body of the Authority will include the relevant minister. For daily administrative functions, the government will appoint an official of a rank of at least a First Class Gazetted Officer.

Responding to queries raised during the bill’s discussion, Minister Pandey stated that the bill was brought forward to fulfil the responsibility of separating the regulator and the service provider. He said the bill aimed at making the aviation sector more organised and effective.

He also stated that the decision to separate the regulator and service provider functions was based on the government's annual policies and programmes, various ministry-level studies, and ICAO's safety audit recommendations.

“We are preparing to revise the national aviation policy. We’ve also prepared a draft umbrella act. The process of integrating provisions related to insurance payouts for both international and domestic flights into law has also begun,” he said.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 28 April 2025 (Translated from Narayan Kafle's news on the same topic).        

Nepal offers an exemplary model for world: Speaker Ghimire

Kathmandu, Apr. 6

 Speaker Devraj Ghimire said that Nepal's journey towards social justice, inclusivity, and peaceful transformation serves as an exemplary model for the world.

Addressing the 150^th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in Tashkent of Uzbekistan, on Sunday, Speaker Ghimire highlighted how Nepal successfully ended its political conflict through a fundamental agreement and made the transition from a unitary state system to a federal democratic republic.

Referring to Nepal's constitution, the Speaker pointed out that it ensures full social justice, equality, and inclusivity, Speaker Ghimire’s secretariat informed in a statement.

He presented the fact that gender and ethnic inclusivity are guaranteed at the highest levels of government and policy-making.

“He particularly highlighted the constitutional provision that mandates the President and Vice-President to be chosen from different genders or communities, as well as the provision that the leadership of both houses of Parliament should come from different genders and political parties, calling it exemplary,” read the statement.

In his speech on ‘Parliamentary Work for Social Development and Justice’ delivered at the conference on behalf of Nepal's Parliament, Speaker Ghimire portrayed Parliament as the main vehicle for social change. He stated, "Parliaments can bring about positive change in society through policy-making, budget allocation, law-making, and oversight of implementation."

He expressed his belief that through parliamentary diplomacy, international cooperation can be expanded to tackle major barriers to social progress such as poverty, conflict, and climate change.

Likewise, Speaker Ghimire also spoke on representation for women, youth, indigenous groups, and marginalised communities, along with the promotion of parliamentary openness, as one of Nepal's significant achievements. Speaking about Nepal's 16^th Five-Year Plan, he mentioned that the government has prioritised ensuring equal access to health, education, employment, and housing for all citizens.

Highlighting climate change as Nepal's most serious challenge, Speaker Ghimire noted that natural disasters are affecting the lives of millions of citizens every year. He reminded the international community of Nepal's role in promoting green energy, climate adaptation policies and expanding international cooperation to ensure climate justice.

Similarly, informing the parliamentary delegates about the upcoming "Sagarmatha Dialogue" scheduled for May 16-18 in Nepal, Speaker Ghimire mentioned that the event would facilitate an international debate on the impact of climate change in the mountainous regions.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 7 April 2025.     

Experts suggest clear policies for climate finance

 Kathmandu, Dec. 5

Lawmakers, climate experts, and representatives of various organisations who recently returned home from COP-29 have suggested that Nepal needs clear policies, strategies, and dedicated mechanisms to ensure the effective implementation of climate finance.

Speaking at a review meeting organised by the Development, Economic Affairs and Good Governance Committee under the National Assembly of the Federal Parliament on Thursday, they called for increased studies and research to document Nepal's losses and damages caused by climate change, which they argued is essential for compensation claims.

According to them, climate finance should be provided as grants, not loans.

They raise concerns that Nepal has not effectively highlighted its unique vulnerabilities, such as those related to its Himalayan ecosystems, in international forums.

Participants of the meeting also suggested that the government should prioritise preparing and training youth from now on to ensure meaningful participation in future COP conferences.

During the COP-29 conference, Nepal was represented by ministers, parliamentarians, climate experts, and representatives from various organisations. Participants acknowledged a global commitment from developed nations to provide US$300 billion annually to developing countries as a positive outcome but noted that this figure fell short of expectations. The initial demand from developing nations was $5 trillion annually, with a more realistic expectation of $1.3 trillion, which was not met, said Dr. Anjan Shakya, Chairperson of the committee.

"The agreement on $300 billion can be seen as progress, albeit limited. Integrating loss and damage into the new climate finance targets is a step forward, but a stronger negotiating presence could have achieved more," she said.

The meeting saw participation from members of parliament, former diplomats, UNDP representatives, and heads of organisations such as the Federation of Community Forestry Users Nepal, Nepal Rural Reconstruction Organisation, Youth Alliance for Environment, International Water Management Institute, Climate and Disaster Programme, Nepali Youth for Climate Action, and the Nepal Water Conservation Foundation, among others.

Participants highlighted that Nepal has faced significant climate-induced disasters, including landslides, droughts, erratic floods, and the drying up of water sources, yet lacks sufficient data to quantify the associated losses. They urged the government to establish systems for comprehensive research and documentation.

Despite Nepal's minimal contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions, the country continues to suffer disproportionate losses due to rising global temperatures. Representatives stressed that compensation mechanisms should ensure that affected countries receive adequate and timely support.

Former Ambassador of Nepal to the USA and climate expert Dr. Arjun Karki expressed concern over Nepal's limited effectiveness in international climate negotiations. He called for the government and parliament to focus on climate diplomacy, international relations, and economic cooperation.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 6 December 2024.  

NA Chair Dahal hold sideline bilateral meetings in Geneva

Kathmandu, Oct. 16

Narayan Prasad Dahal, Chairman of the National Assembly of Nepal who is leading the Nepali delegation to the 149^th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) being held in Geneva of Switzerland held sidelines bilateral meetings with the President of the National Council of Switzerland, and the leaders of parliamentary delegations from India, China, Thailand and the Philippines on Tuesday.  

In the meeting with Eric Nussbaumer, President of the National Council of Swiss Confederation, the two leaders expressed commitment to enhancing inter-parliamentary exchanges and cooperation in areas of climate change, mountain conservation and disaster risk reduction, strengthening federalism, and the Swiss development cooperation in Nepal including in the peace process, informed the Permanent Mission of Nepal in Geneva.

Likewise, the discussion with the leader of the Indian delegation, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla was focused on promoting cooperation in the bilateral, regional and multilateral fronts to strengthen democratic institutions.

During the bilateral meeting with Mongkol Surasajita, President of the Senate of Thailand, Dahal emphasised the historical and cultural ties between Nepal and Thailand deeply rooted in the ideals of Buddhism. The two leaders discussed about enhancing parliamentary exchanges and cooperation to promote peace, democracy and development, read the statement.

The Chairperson also held a bilateral meeting with Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Speaker of the House of Representative of the Republic of the Philippines and discussed about promoting inter-parliamentary cooperation to promote peace, democracy and development in the world. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 17 October 2024. 

NA chair for cooperation to deal with global issues

 Kathmandu, Oct. 15

Narayan Prasad Dahal, Chairperson of the National Assembly of Nepal, called for international cooperation to ensure equitable access to the benefits of STI for all and to mitigate its negative impacts through sharing of knowledge, experiences, and resources.

Addressing the 149^th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) at Geneva International Conference Centre in Geneva on Monday, he stressed that the advancements in STI should be considered as a global good, according to the Permanent Mission of Nepal in Geneva.

The Assembly is being convened under the theme of ‘Harnessing Science, Technology, and Innovations (STI) for a More Peaceful and Sustainable Future’ from 13 to 17 October.

The Mission informed in the statement that the Chairperson emphasised the importance of inter-parliamentary cooperation in addressing pressing global challenges such as climate change, poverty, and inequality.

"He noted that the theme of the 149^th Assembly aligns with current global priorities, particularly following the recent adoption of the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations by the 79^th UN General Assembly," read the statement.

He added that the STI holds transformative potential towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. 

Similarly, Dahal highlighted that the recent passage of the transitional justice related bill unanimously by the federal parliament of Nepal paved the path toward a lasting peace in the country. He expressed gratitude to the international community for their support and good wishes in Nepal’s peace process.

In the afternoon on Monday, Dahal held meetings with Dr. Tulia Ackson, President of the IPU and Martin Chungong, Secretary General of the IPU. Matters relating to strengthening Nepal-IPU relations and enhancing inter-parliamentary cooperation in the regional and global context were discussed on the occasion.

Later in the evening, Dahal and members of the delegation visited the Mission and took stock of Mission’s activities and engagements in Geneva.

Ram Prasad Subedi, Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Geneva had received Dahal and Nepal's parliamentary delegation upon their arrival at Geneva International Airport on Saturday.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 16 October 2024. 

Inclusive principle sought in ambassador appointments

Kathmandu, Sept. 3

The International Relations and Tourism Committee (IRTC) of the Federal Parliament has decided to draw the attention of the government to adopt proportional inclusive principles while appointing Nepal's ambassadors to foreign countries.

Chairman of the committee Raj Kishor Yadav issued the decision of the House Panel after a discussion with the Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba and Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal on Tuesday.

Speaking at the IRTC, FM Dr. Rana said that the government was making maximum efforts to make the appointment of the ambassadors more orderly, dignified and transparent.

She also said that they would be appointed based on efficiency and performance as envisioned by the guidelines on the appointment of ambassadors.

Responding to the questions of the lawmakers, FM Dr. Rana maintained that the recommendations of the ambassadors were not inclusive in terms of sectors and geographical regions, and promised to pay attention to this issue in future appointments.

Stating that Nepal's interests will be represented at the international level, she expressed the commitment of the government to mobilising diplomatic missions and heads of mission abroad keeping in mind the country's paramount interest.

"The government has continued with the policy of appointing at least 50 per cent of ambassadors from the Foreign Service to balance the political field and professionalism," said FM Dr. Rana.

It has been recommended to make maximum use of the skills and experience of various fields for the national interest when recommending appointments for the ambassadors from outside the service, she added.

In response to the question that when the foreign minister of the country goes abroad, the parliamentary committee should be informed in advance about the agenda and purpose of the visit, Minister Dr. Rana said, "If this committee deems it necessary, I am ready to inform about any visit and the agenda of the visit in advance."

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 4 September 2024.        

EU parliamentarians seek cooperation areas in Nepal

 Kathmandu, Feb. 21

A delegation of European Union – Inter Pares (Parliaments in Partnership) is in Nepal to explore the possible areas of cooperation with parliament here. 

Chairman of International Relations and Tourism Committee (IRTC) of the House of Representatives of Nepal, Raj Kishore Yadav and Programme Head of European Union – Inter Pares, Jonathan Murphy had a meeting on Wednesday in this regard.

According to a statement issued by the IRTC, Samjhana Thapaliya and Hari Prasad Uprety and members of Inter Pares, Andrea Wolfe and Carlotta Viaggio participated in the meeting.

Inter Pares was established in 2019 with the aim of enhancing the capacity of Parliament and Secretariat through cooperation with similar parliaments and has been cooperating with 18 parliaments in the world.

IRTC's Chairman, Yadav, said that while there is a need of conducting research on the issues like implementing balanced foreign policy, achievements of federalism, addressing issues of youth and various areas under the jurisdiction of the IRTC, there is a shortage of resources to carry out the desired activities.

He mentioned that there should be an exchange of study and decision-making process of the same parliamentary committee, inter-parliamentary interaction and discussion, exchange programmes, observation visits to other countries' parliaments and parliamentary activities.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 February 2024.        

PM Calls for making Upcoming House Session Effective

 Kathmandu, Jan. 30

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' has discussed with the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs (MoLJPA) about giving 'business' to the Parliament that will start its new session from February 5.

Prime Minister Prachanda called the officials of the MoLJPA to the Prime Minister's Office, Singha Durbar, and discussed the preparation of the bills to be presented in the upcoming session of the federal parliament.

During the discussion, the prime minister emphasised that the session should be made effective as there were reviews that the previous session of the parliament could not play an effective role in law-making.

Directing the Ministry, PM Prachanda said, there is a review that last year the parliament could not do an exemplary job in law-making. According to him, there is also an opinion that the government did not give 'business' to the parliament and should not happen again this time.

"Let's prepare to register more bills as soon as the parliamentary session starts. The chief secretary should follow up. The ministry should bring the bill in coordination with all the ministries and with good preparation. This time Parliament should be given business in an orderly manner," he said.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Secretary, Dr. Baikunth Aryal, directed the MoLJPA to make necessary preparations for the bills, saying that bills that have undergone legal examination and financial liability should be sent to the parliament quickly.

Likewise, the Secretary of the Ministry, Udaya Raj Sapkota, said that the Ministry has done the necessary homework for the bills to be presented in the next session of the parliament and some of them would be presented at the beginning of the session.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 31 January 2024.     

International Committee of HoR to visit India

Kathmandu, Jan. 29

A delegation of International Relations and Tourism Committee (IRTC) of the House of Representatives is embarking on an official visit of India for 8-days from January 30 to February 6.

The 12-member delegation, including eight members of the committee and four staff of the Parliament Secretariat, is visiting the southern neighbour at the invitation of the chairman of the Standing Committee on External Affairs (SCEA) of Indian Federal Parliament. The External Affairs Committee includes 31 members – 21 from the lower house and 10 from the upper house.

Chairman of the IRTC, Raj Kishor Yadav, said that the visit is aimed at exchanging experience, knowledge and practice of the parliamentary system as well as discussing Nepal-India relations.

The Nepali parliamentary delegation will hold a meeting with the SCEA and Speaker of the lower house of Indian parliament – Lok Sabha – Om Birla. The delegation will discuss about the facilities at the parliament building of India and working styles of the committee including the organisation of meetings.

The visiting delegation is also scheduled to hold separate meeting with External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S. Jaishankar, and Minister for Tourism, G Kishan Reddy.

"We will observe new parliament building of India and will see how it has been designed and managed so that we could find out better ways to manage our new parliament of building," said Yadav. 

"India is a large democracy. But is stable and there is parliamentary stability despite diverse demographics and political ideologies. There are several things that we need to learn," he added.

He said that students and patients going to India now have to pay fees as SAARC citizens while earlier it was same as for Indians. We will request lawmakers there to take this issue into considerations, said Yadav.

He maintained that economic and business issues will get priority in their deliberations.

Likewise, the Nepali delegation will request Indian Tourism Minister to keep Nepal in the priority list to send their government employees in vacation. About 50 million Indians go out of country as tourists, and government employees get 10 days casual leave in a calendar year for tourism activities.

Nepali delegation is also scheduled to meet the chief ministers and governors of Maharastra and Uttar Pradesh of India, hold interaction with Nepali diaspora in Mumbai and Delhi. It will make observational tours to Goa and Varanasi. It will also attend a programme at the Embassy of Nepal in New Delhi.

Yadav had already discussed the potential issues of deliberations with the former ambassadors and experts. Meanwhile, the delegation also called on Speaker Devraj Ghimire and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' on Monday and discussed about the visit. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 30 January 2024.     

EC publishes final list of voters

Kathmandu, Jan. 7

The Election Commission of Nepal (ECN) Sunday published the final list of the voters for the National Assembly election scheduled for January 25.

The EC informed that there would be 2047 voters – 549 members from the provincial assemblies and 1498 chiefs and deputies from the local bodies – in the election of the National Assembly of the Federal Parliament.

Province-wide data showed that the largest number of voters is in Madhes Province totalling 374 voters including 107  Provincial Assembly members and 267 local-level chiefs and deputies.

In Koshi, there are 367 voters with 93 PA members and 274 local-level chiefs and deputies who will have the right to vote in the National Assembly election.

 Likewise, there are 347 voters in Bagmati province with 110 PA members and 237 local level people's representatives.

In Gandaki, there are 230 voters including 60 PA members and 170 representatives from the local governments while there are 305 voters in Lumbini which is comprised of 87 PA members and 218 chiefs and deputies of the local government.

Similarly, Lumbini has 87 voters from the PA and 218 from the local governments for the NA election while the number in Karnali PA is 40 and 156 from local bodies.

Sudurpashchim province has 53 voters from the PA and 176 chiefs and deputies from the local governments.

According to the ECN, Karnali has the lowest number of voters followed by Sudurpashchim and Gandaki with 196, 228 and 230 voters respectively.

Every voter from the Provincial Assembly will have a vote weightage 53 while local bodies' chiefs and deputies' vote weightage is 19. The total vote weightage of PA members is 29,097 and local body representatives' weightage is 28,462. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 8 January 2024.

NA Chairman, Australian envoy Volk discuss direct flights between two countries

Kathmandu, Sept. 18

Chairman of the National Assembly, Ganesh Prasad Timilsina, and Australian Ambassador to Nepal, Felicity Volk have discussed operating direct flight services between Nepal and Australia.

More than 130,000 Nepalis are living in Australia.

Stating that there are a large number of Nepalis involved in various professions and businesses along with students, Chairman Timilsina emphasised that both countries can benefit from it if direct air flights can be operated between Australia and Nepal.

Bilateral interests, friendly relations and high-level visits were discussed in the meeting held at the Chairman's Office at the Singha Durbar on Monday.

According to the secretariat of Chairman Timilsina, during the meeting, he mentioned that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1960, Nepal and Australia have had a very harmonious and cooperative relationship.

He said that Australia has become an attractive educational destination for many Nepali students and said that if the number of scholarships given to Nepali students is increased, many students could benefit from it.

Ambassador Volk said that there are more than 130,000 Nepalis living in Australia and informed that Nepali language is the third most spoken language in Canberra.

She said that Nepal is a high priority for Australia and informed about the visit of the Speaker of the House of Representatives of Australia to Nepal in October.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 19 September 2023. 

Nepal is a promising place for investment: Hollen

Kathmandu, Sept. 2

American Senator Chris Van Hollen has highlighted Nepal as a promising country for investment.

Speaking at an interaction programme organised by the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) Nepal in Kathmandu the other day, he expressed his commitment to inspire American investors to explore investment opportunities within Nepal.

During the event, Senator Hollen discussed the potential for investments in various sectors in Nepal, including energy, technology, and tourism, in recent times. He also emphasised the role that AmCham could play in coordinating between Nepal and American investors, citing the long-standing and deep ties between the two nations.

As part of the international programme, AmCham had presented brief videos on energy, technology, and tourism in Nepal based on their priorities.

Senator Hollen acknowledged the significant potential in these sectors within Nepal, highlighting the proactive efforts of the Millennium Challenge Account Nepal in the energy sector. He mentioned that the United States had been supportive not only in the energy sector but also in various other areas in Nepal.

Furthermore, he praised Nepal's investment-friendly ecosystem and highlighted the ease of doing business in the country. He noted the efforts made by AmCham in promoting effective coordination among American investors.

Speaking on the occasion, US Ambassador to Nepal Dean Thompson expressed his delight in AmCham's effective coordination with American investors in Nepal. The programme featured presentations by various American entrepreneurs and businesses, showcasing their investments in Nepal. These included a presentation by Rishi Chopra on Soaltee Hotel, Motilal Dugar on Megha Energy Company, and Hemapal Shrestha on Parakosma Software.

During the programme, Ajit Shah, the President of AmCham, mentioned the vast untapped potential in energy, technology, and tourism sectors in Nepal and emphasised the importance of American investments in these areas.

AmCham is an organisation that represents Nepali entrepreneurs and businesses that have invested in various sectors in the United States. It has been actively promoting American investments in Nepal, contributing to the growth and development of both countries.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 3 September 2023. 

Speaker in Bahrain

Kathmandu, Mar. 11

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dev Raj Ghimire, reached Bahrain on Saturday to participate in the 146^th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), which is going to be held there from March 11-15.

According to the Embassy of Nepal in Manama, Capital of Bahrain, the Speaker is leading a nine-member high-level parliamentary delegation from Nepal.

Bahraini members of parliament, courtesy officers and Nepali Ambassador to Bahrain, Tirtha Raj Wagle, and embassy officials as well as representatives of Nepali organisations in Bahrain welcomed Speaker Ghimire at Bahrain International Airport.

The 146^th assembly of the IPU is being held at the Exhibition World Bahrain Convention Center. Bahraini King Hamad bin Isha Al Khalifa will address the opening session of the assembly that will hold discussions on 'Promoting peaceful coexistence and inclusive societies: Fighting intolerance'.

During his visit, Speaker Ghimire will address the assembly, meet with the speaker of the assembly of Bahrain and the leaders of parliamentary delegations from various countries, informed the embassy in a statement.

He is also scheduled to meet the heads and representatives of the Nepali organisations in Bahrain and interact with them on Monday.

The members of the delegation include lawmakers Ramesh Lekhak, Indu Kadariya, Hitraj Pandey, and Santosh Pariyar, General Secretary of Federal Parliament Dr. Bharat Raj Gautam, Secretary of the House of Representatives, Gopal Nath Yogi, Chief Personal Secretary of the Speaker, Tej Prakash Bhattarai, and Section Officer of the Parliament Secretariat, Rajan Ghimire.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 12 March 2023. 

Citizenship Bill returned to House

Kathmandu, Aug. 14

President Bidya Devi Bhandari has returned the bill to amend the Nepal Citizenship Act, 2007 to the House of Representatives of the federal parliament on Sunday.

The Office of the President said in a statement that the President returned the bill to the parliament citing a need to ‘reconsider’ the provisions for obtaining the citizenship.

The bill was passed by both the Houses of the parliament and approved by the Speaker of the HoR, Agni Prasad Sapkota.

 The House of Representatives had endorsed it on July 22 while the National Assembly approved this on July 28

 The Bill was submitted to the House of Representatives by the present government on July 8 by withdrawing the old ones which had been  pending in the federal parliament since August 2018.   

  Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 15 August 2021.

Lawmakers stressed on hydropower, trade cooperation with Bangladesh

Kathmandu, Aug. 5

An eight-member parliamentary delegation led by Pabitra Niroula Kharel, Chairperson of the International Relations Committee of the House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament of Nepal, called on Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina at the latter’s office in Dhaka on Friday.

Discussions in the meeting were focused on ways to build on bilateral cooperation and further consolidate economic ties, the Embassy of Nepal in Dhaka said in a statement on Friday.  

Lawmaker Kharel stressed the need to enhance parliamentary exchanges between the two countries. She further stated that both countries could benefit if the cooperation on hydropower, trade, and tourism sectors were expedited through the established mechanisms.

Prime Minister recalled the contribution and support of Nepali leaders during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971 and expressed satisfaction over the state of excellent bilateral relations.

She highlighted the potentials existing in the fields of trade, energy, tourism, education, and people-to-people contacts, and underlined the importance of cooperation under the BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal) framework.   

Earlier on Thursday, the parliamentary delegation had an interaction with the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh.

The interaction was focused on strengthening parliamentary relations including through the establishment of friendship groups in the parliaments of both countries.

Prior to this, a luncheon was hosted by State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Shahriar Alam in the honour of the visiting delegation.

The delegation also visited Bangabandhu Memorial Museum, Dhaka, to pay respect to the ‘Father of the Nation’ of Bangladesh, Sheikh Mujibur Rehman.

The delegation include lawmakers Chandtara Kumari, Dr. Deepak Prakash Bhatt, Dev Prasad Timalsena, Lila Devi Sitaula, Narad Muni Rana, Sarala Kumari Yadav, and Under Secretary at Federal Parliament Secretariat Gopal Sigdel.

The delegation is on a visit to Bangladesh from 3-6 August 2022. They will depart Dhaka for Kathmandu on Saturday. 

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 6 August 2022. 

US Congress delegation calls on PM Deuba

Kathmandu, Apr. 23

The United States congressional delegation led by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Saturday morning.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on various aspects of Nepal-US relations and cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) informed in a statement.

The Prime Minister thanked the US Congress for its continued support to Nepal, including during the difficult times of the 2015 earthquakes and the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

"Both sides underscored the importance of parliamentary interactions for the enrichment of the multidimensional Nepal-US friendship. Views were also exchanged on institutionalizing democracy and cooperation in climate change," read the statement.

Likewise, the US Embassy in Kathmandu said in a tweet that the two sides discussed ways to further bolster ties, including by addressing climate crisis and strengthening democratic resilience.

Earlier on Friday, the visiting US delegation had called on Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Narayan Khadka at the latter’s office where he appreciated the longstanding US cooperation to Nepal’s development endeavours and expressed hope that the visit by the US delegation to Nepal will contribute to further strengthening of the bilateral relations.

According to the MoFA, the US congressional delegation reaffirmed the commitment to working closely with Nepal on the matters of common interests. The matters related to agriculture and food security as well as Nepal’s role in the UN peacekeeping also featured during the conversation.

The Nepal-US Parliamentary Friendship Group in the Federal Parliament of Nepal also held an interaction with the visiting US congressional delegation which also includes Senators Sheldon Whitehouse, Cory Booker, Mark Kelly, and Representative Mondaire Jones. The delegation is on a three-day visit to Nepal which will conclude on Sunday.

This year marks the 75^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and the United States.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 April 2022. 

Speakers of Nepal, China stress on high-level exchanges

Kathmandu, Apr. 8

Speaker of the House of Representatives Agni Prasad Sapkota had a virtual meeting with Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Li Zhanshu on Friday afternoon.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged in-depth views on various aspects of Nepal-China relations and underscored the need to have frequent exchanges of high-level visits between the parliaments of two countries.

Speaker Sapkota and Chairman Li extended invitations to visit each other’s countries at mutually convenient time in future.

Senior officials of the Federal Parliament Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the Nepali side and chairpersons of various committees of National People's Congress and Vice Minister of Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the Chinese side were also present during the virtual meeting. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 9 April 2022.