Kathmandu, September 15
The government has appointed Yuba Raj Khatiwada, who recently resigned as the Finance Minister, as the ‘special economic advisor’ to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
Khatiwada, who was considered successful as the vice-chairman of National Planning Commission and the governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, however, had not impressed stakeholders and the public while working as the minister for two-and-a-half years.
However, the cabinet appointed him to the ‘special position’ who will also enjoy benefits of a minister, the government spokesperson Foreign Affairs Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali informed during a press meeting in Kathmandu on Tuesday.
A cabinet meeting held on Monday evening made the decision.
There are speculations that Oli, now, will keep the Finance Ministry within himself whereas Khatiwada will lead it as the de facto minister.
Here are other major decision’s of the cabinet held last night:
- Long-haul public buses and domestic flights will resume their services on Thursday, September 17. (Earlier, the resumption date was reported to be September 21.) They need to adopt needful safety measures to minimise the coronavirus infection risks. Buses can take up to 50 per cent more than the standard fare to compensate the losses they have to bear while ensuring safety. The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation will make a decision about the airfare.
- Hotels and restaurants can resume their services on September 17.
- Tourism and travel-related activities will resume on October 17.
- The government will bear costs of treatment of acid attack survivors. The government will formulate a new law to address the crime within next 15 days. Kathmandu-based Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Bir Hospital, and Kirtipur Hospital have been designated as dedicated hospitals for acid attack cases.
