Whereas the new government is yet to get its full shape as the Prime Minister is waiting for the Madhesh-centric Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal to join his Cabinet, the Federal Parliament Secretariat has expedited preparations to host the first meeting of the first session of Parliament including both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly. Both of these issues have received significant attention in Nepali and English newspapers published from Kathmandu on Wednesday. Other contemporary political, sociocultural and economic issues have also been given prominent space on the front page of broadsheets.
Important
New Parliament session may include PM’s question-answer session
Gorkhapatra, Nepal Samacharpatra and The Himalayan Times report that the Federal Parliament Secretariat is preparing to include a question-answer session during House meetings with the Prime Minister.
Such sessions will be held twice every month as proposed by the Secretariat, The Himalayan Times says, adding the sessions will allow lawmakers to question the prime minister on policies, politics and contemporary issues.
Nepal Samacharpatra quotes Secretariat spokesperson Bharat Raj Gautam to say that the new provision has been proposed as such practice was proved effective internationally.
The Parliament Operation Regulation which incorporates the provision, however, is subject to the endorsement by a meeting of representatives of national political parties, the report adds. Meanwhile, an all party meeting has been scheduled for today to prepare agendas for the first Parliament meeting scheduled for next week, according to Gorkhapatra.
Forum likely to join govt
Newspapers have reported that Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s CPN-UML is preparing to sign a written agreement with the Upendra Yadav-led Federal Socialist Forum-Nepal so as to bring the Madhesh-centric party on board the government.
Rajdhani quotes UML leader Subas Chandra Nembang to say that meetings held between two parties has been positive so far. The same report quotes Forum’s Co-Chairman Rajendra Shrestha, who says that the Forum is demanding that the UML be ready to amend Article 274 of the constitution, which has a provision about amending boundaries of provinces.
In the agreement, the two parties will also make an understanding about maintaining consistency between activities of federal and provincial governments, according to Kantipur.
Janata Post says Prime Minister Oli is also wooing another Madhesh powerhouse, Rastriya Janata Party Nepal, to join the government.
Ignored
Fake banknotes in Nepali market
A high-ranking bank official was recently deceived with a fake banknote and hence circulation of fake currencies in the market has been discussed at the Nepal Rastra Bank, reports The Himalayan Times.
In another case, police have arrested five persons for allegedly printing and circulating fake Nepali banknotes in Kathmandu, the report adds.
Norvic doctors quizzed over surgery blunder
The Ethical Committee of Nepal Medical Council, the country’s medical regulatory body, has interrogated two doctors of Thapathali-based Norvic International Hospital after they reportedly carried out a surgery on a patient’s right leg though the problem was in left leg, reports Republica.
The Committee’s coordinator Dr Dhundi Raj Paudel tells the newspaper that the doctors’ licences also can be suspended for a certain period if they are found guilty.
Voting for presidential election to be held in Kathmandu only
The Election Commission has scheduled the presidential election for March 13. Members of federal and provincial legislative bodies will cast ballots to elect the head of the state. Though all Provincial Assembly members will cast votes, the Commission is planning to do the voting in Kathmandu only, according to Rajdhani.
The Commission’s spokesperson Nawaraj Dhakal has told the paper that the voting centre has been set up at the Federal Parliament Building in Naya Baneshwor only owing to managerial difficulties.
Meanwhile, Nepal Samacharpatra says preparations for the election have been over.
Interesting
Number of expatriates on the rise in Nepal
As the number of Nepalis going abroad for employment is on the rise for last many years, the number of foreigners working in the country is also increasing, reports Nagarik lead story. In a period of last 10 months, 2,370 foreigners have obtained permit to work in Nepal from the Department of Labour, the report says, quoting its Director Barun Kumar Jha.
The report claims that the number is highest since the government began tracking employment of foreigners here.
New Finance Minister announces Rs 600 billion investment in infrastructure development
Newly appointed Finance Minister says he will invest Rs 600 billion for infrastructural development in the country, reports Karobar. Receiving a delegation from the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry at his office yesterday, the new minister said he would expect that the private sector would cooperate with the government to achieve goals of economic development.
As officials of Nepali private sector’s umbrella organisation congratulated Khatiwada, he was he was aware of the problems industries were facing and the government was committed to solving them, says the report.
