Kathmandu, September 23
The government has appointed Santosh Shrestha as chairperson of the Advertising Board. Shrestha, a resident of Kathmandu Metropolitan City-14, has been appointed chairperson of the board for a maximum term of four years, according to a Cabinet decision made on September 18.
The newly appointed chairperson took the oath of office and secrecy before Minister for Information and Communications Dr Bikram Timilsina on Tuesday.
Following the oath-taking ceremony at the ministry, Minister Timilsina instructed Shrestha to work in a results-oriented manner to regulate, manage and improve the advertising sector. He said the board should play an effective role in accordance with its authority and responsibilities to improve the management of the advertising sector.
Minister Timilsina emphasised the need to move forward with an action plan that further establishes the necessity, rationale and acceptability of the board. He said the board’s current status, problems, opportunities and potential should be seriously reviewed and addressed through clear improvement plans.
Timilsina said ineffective implementation of existing laws and regulations was currently a major challenge. In this context, he said the board needed to identify its weaknesses and make necessary improvements.
He also stressed the need to make the distribution of public welfare advertisements scientific, objective, transparent and lawful. Referring to questions raised by the Office of the Auditor General regarding transparency in the distribution of public welfare advertisements, he emphasised the need to ensure the transparent and effective use of public resources.
Newly appointed chairperson Shrestha expressed his commitment to effectively implementing policies, acts and laws related to advertising. He said he would develop a new action plan to improve the advertising sector, keeping good governance and accessible service delivery for citizens at the centre.
Shrestha also expressed his commitment to making the regulation, management and operation of the advertising sector more effective.
Shrestha, who previously served as president of the Nepal Advertising Association, has extensive experience in the advertising and communications sector. He has also taught at educational institutions including King’s College and Don Bosco College in Kathmandu.
—RSS
