Govt favors press freedom: Minister Karki

Minister for Communications and Information Technology Gyanendra Bahadur Karki has asserted that the incumbent government was in favor of press freedom.

At a programme organized by the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Kaski chapter to award the 'Dayashankar Palikhe Memorial Journalism Honour-2021 AD' here today, Minister Karki reiterated, "The government wants to protect and promote the freedom of expression and individual freedom as envisaged by the Constitution of Nepal."

Stating that no journalist was brought to book for his/her freedom of expression yet, the Minister assured that the government would not do so either in coming days.

Karki expressed government's readiness to make legal and structural provisions and arrangements to develop Nepal as the model country for press freedom in South Asia.

On a different note, Minister Karki admitted that the price of petroleum products had increased lately and pledged to streamline energy production to replace petroleum products. According to him, the government would pay attention to increase the domestic production and consumption of energy.

He was of the view that economic prosperity could be achieved through the optimal exploitation of the hydro resources in the country and opined that the private sector should be encouraged to achieve the goal of prosperity.

Furthermore, Karki said that there was no alternative to moving forward by maintaining cordial relations with other countries and shared that Nepal would move forward embracing the 'Panchasheel' principle, the five principles of peaceful co-existence.

He also shared that the incumbent government decided not to proceed with the State Partnership Programme (SPP) proposed by the United States of America.

On the occasion, journalist Babita Basnet was awarded Dayashankar Palikhe Memorial Journalism Honour-2021 AD. The honor carries a purse of Rs 101,111 and a letter of honor.

Similarly, FNJ Kaski chapter President Bimala Bhandari said that Basnet was honored in recognition of her 'significant' contribution to the cause of women empowerment and awareness drive through journalism.