Government issues Advertisement Code of Conduct

Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, has said the implementation aspect of any policy is more important than its formulation.

In his address to a programme organized here today to unveil code of conduct relating to advertisement production, its dissemination, publication and broadcasting, the Minister said though each code of conduct is applied for all, the misconception that "I am free from it" made the implementation aspect challenging. He urged one and all to realize that code of conduct is for all and none is allowed to violate it.

The Communications Minister was of the opinion of promoting freedom and good governance simultaneously in the nation. "Discipline should be the first priority and is also a prerequisite to take the country towards the path of development, civilization and good governance." He assured that the Ministry is committed to removing possible hurdles in the enforcement of the code of conduct.

"The code of conduct coming into effect from today will yield results after a week," the Minister said, adding that talks, discussions and consultations would make the implementation aspect easier.

Also speaking on the occasion, Ministry secretary Baikuntha Aryal hoped that with the enforcement of code of conduct, the advertisement sector would be more competent and transparent while Advertisement Board Nepal chair Laxman Humagain said the Board had held several rounds of discussions with advertising agencies, media professionals and journalists' associations in course of drafting the code of conduct.

Board chief administrative officer Ram Prasad Sapkota was hopeful of seeing the results of code of conduct after a brief time while Media Society Nepal's Madan Lamsal pressed an idea of regulating media in Nepal to assess its presence.

Press Council Nepal's chair Balkrishna Basnet said the code of conduct has made the Council's monitoring easier and Advertising Association Nepal chair Som Dhital stressed the need of removing mismanagement in each sector.

Journalist Babita Basnet said she expected to see the recognition of women's talents and their intelligence instead of objectification of their bodies in advertisement following the implementation of code of conduct.

This is the first time the government has brought a code of conduct for governing the advertisement business.