September 5: The government has initiated the process to amend laws in order to allow real estate business only after acquiring…
September 5: The government has initiated the process to amend laws in order to allow real estate business only after acquiring…
September 4: Sunrise Bank has been awarded with the “Excellence in Product Innovation 2022 Award” by Visa International.…
September 4: The farmers in the Tarai-Madhes region are gradually losing interest in cultivation of jute, which was once the major cash crop of the…
September 4: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said that the economy is gradually returning back to…
September 4: The goal of the Prime Minister's Employment Programme launched by the government in the fiscal year 2018/19 was to increase employment opportunities within the country and promote social…
September 4: Nepal Rastra Bank’s Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari has defended the central bank’s move to amend the Working Capital Loan Guidelines arguing that the new guidelines were introduced to control “over…
September 4: A trekking with the participation of leading women figures from different sectors of the country is being held in the Shey Phoksundo area of Dolpa.…
September 4: India has decided to allow Nepal utilize two more sea ports for overseas…
September 4: The number of foreign tourists visiting Nepal has climbed to 326,667 as of August 2022 this…
September 2: QFX Cinema has collaborated with Khalti digital wallet to facilitate its customers in making digital payment for cinema…
September 2: Ncell Axiata Limited has bagged the award for being ‘Nepal’s Fastest Mobile Network’.…
September 2: Altogether 27 MW of electricity has been added to the national transmission line on Tuesday after the completion of Dordikhola hydropower project in Lamjung.…
September 2: After the Nepal Rastra Bank increased the risk weightage to discourage investment in unproductive sector, banks have started reducing credit flow in those…
September 2: Government's plan of providing electricity facility to every household of Nepal is in the phase of…
September 2: The Department of Tourism has granted permission to the citizens of 34 countries to climb mountain peaks during the autumn…
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According to the ministry, the bill has included a provision that requires license for any individual or institution to get involved in real estate business. Such a provision has been include in Section 7(A) of the Land Revenue Act 2034. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Furthermore, anyone found involved in real estate business without acquiring license will be fined Rs 1 million. The new arrangement will be applicable only after the bill is endorsed by the parliament and then authenticated by the president.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">So far, individuals and institutions are involved in real estate business without any license. The government had earlier announced in the budget for the current fiscal year that any individual or institution will be allowed to get involved in real estate business in metropolitan cities and sub metropolis only after acquiring license. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government has made attempt to regulate the real estate business after a long debate. The National Risk Evaluation Report prepared by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers two years ago states that the real estate sector falls under the risk of money laundering.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Any individual or institution interested to acquire license for real estate business needs to submit the details and documents along with the prescribed fees to the concerned official once this new provision is published in the Nepal Gazette.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government is likely to authorize an official of the federal government or the provincial government to issue license for the real estate business. Anyone fulfilling the required criteria can acquire the license. The bill has proposed the validity of such license for a period of five years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Earlier, the government was planning to form a separate authority to regulate the real estate sector but the bill is not clear which unit of the government will issue the license and regulate the real estate business. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-05', 'modified' => '2022-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15668', 'image' => '20220905105350_Real estate.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-05 10:53:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15926', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Sunrise Bank Bags Excellence in Product Innovation Award', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: Sunrise Bank has been awarded with the “Excellence in Product Innovation 2022 Award” by Visa International. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 4: Sunrise Bank has been awarded with the “Excellence in Product Innovation 2022 Award” by Visa International. The award was handed over to Robin Kumar Nepal, deputy general manager of the bank, in the presence of Deputy Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, Neelam Dungana Timsina, during an event held in Kathmandu on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bank managed to bag the award for providing latest services to the cooperative members by including them in the Visa network and connecting them to the digital payment system. The bank also provided the facility of paying electricity bills by making a missed call for the first time in Nepal. Furthermore, the bank has been providing various banking services with up-to-date technology through 139 branches, 95 branchless banking services, 13 extension counters and 159 ATMs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15667', 'image' => '20220904041349_Visa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 16:13:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15925', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Farmers' Attraction to Jute Farming Waning ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: The farmers in the Tarai-Madhes region are gradually losing interest in cultivation of jute, which was once the major cash crop of the region.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 4: The farmers in the Tarai-Madhes region are gradually losing interest in cultivation of jute, which was once the major cash crop of the region. Especially, jute cultivation was widely done in Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa districts of the eastern Tarai. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, it is found that jute farming no longer is the attraction of farmers in recent years due to the low returns on investment, the lack of availability of new jute processing technology and the labour shortage. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jute cultivation is gradually declining owing to the cumbersome processing and labour shortage. Another factor that is behind the decline in jute cultivation is the lack of irrigation facility. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jute farming has reduced by more than half in Paschim Kushaha, Laukahi, Shreepur and Haripur and Narasingh Bhokraha areas in southern part of Sunsari district. These areas were the main jute farming areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, jute cultivation in Kaptangunj, Madhya Harshahi, Ramgunj Sinuwari, Sahengunj and Babiya, Jalpapur areas has also reduced more than half these days, said Birendra Yadav, a local farmer. He said they would cultivate jute if the local government provided the farmers with subsidies. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Until some years ago, farmers in Sunsari used to make a decent income from jute farming. But these days they cultivate jute only for using it as firewood. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the FY, 2018/19, jute cultivation in Province 1 spread across 7,285 hectares of lands, producing 12,959 metric tonnes of raw jute. Similarly, jute cultivation spanned over 7,555 hectares in the FY, 2019/20, producing 10,165 metric tonnes. In the FY, 2020/21, the cultivation spread across 7,415 hectares. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jute cultivation had been on the decline since some years, according to Tirtha Raj Rijal, chief of the Jute Research Center, Itahari. Technical difficulties in jute cultivation is blamed for its decline, he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lately, jute industries in the country have shut down due to various reasons. In view of a decline in its production, the government at all three levels should bring various programmes to encourage farmers, he stressed. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15666', 'image' => '20220904040338_20220711053930_jute-sacks-500x500.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 16:02:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15924', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Economy Returning Back on Track: Finance Minister', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said that the economy is gradually returning back to normalcy.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 4: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said that the economy is gradually returning back to normalcy. Finance Minister Sharma made such remark at the opening session of the 24th Annual General Meeting of the Society of Economic Journalists of Nepal (SEJON).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He said that the economy has started to improve because the policies adopted by the government on time. Finance Minister Sharma said that the remittance inflow has increased as the festive season approaches and the country's economy is getting stronger as a result. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He believes that the increase in remittance inflow will relieve the pressure on foreign exchange reserves and it will make the economy stronger. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sharma said that the government will pay attention to the budget expenditure to prevent liquidity crisis and informed that all the ministries have been instructed to make the budget expenditure effective in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Minister Sharma also urged the private sector to increase investment in the productive sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission Dr Bishwanath Paudel said that due to the right decisions and policies of the government and Nepal Rastra Bank, the economy has moved in the right direction. He said that the practice of taking bribes while granting licenses in Nepal has increased and such trend should come to an end. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“There are various kinds of rumors while giving license in Nepal. There are syndicates in every sector. Many types of monopolies have flourished, so the license rule must end,” said Paudel.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Paudel added that the habit of saving money has gradually started to develop in Nepal and that will also help to take the economy to the path of prosperity. According to him, the tendency to save money is increasing. He argued that the foreign exchange reserves will increase due to the increase in remittance inflow, and the economy will become stronger. In the next five years, the construction of some road projects will be completed and it will further improve the economy, said Paudel. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He suggested increasing investment in the manufacturing and service sectors to boost the economy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, Chandra Prasad Dhakal, senior vice president of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries, pointed out that Nepal's economy is moving in the positive direction. He added that the central bank needs to be cautious, saying that Nepal should not follow the footsteps of Sri Lanka, as it is being rumored in the market. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15665', 'image' => '20220904035348_fin min sharma.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 15:53:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15923', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Objectives of PMEP Remains Unfulfilled', 'sub_title' => 'Rs 17 Billion Spent Under PM Employment Programme in 4 Years ', 'summary' => 'September 4: The goal of the Prime Minister's Employment Programme launched by the government in the fiscal year 2018/19 was to increase employment opportunities within the country and promote social security.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 4: The goal of the Prime Minister's Employment Programme launched by the government in the fiscal year 2018/19 was to increase employment opportunities within the country and promote social security. However, even after four years since the initiation of the programme, the status of employment opportunities in the country remains the same. The fact that the number of people seeking foreign employment has not declined stands as a testimony to this. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to the year when the PM's Employment Programme started, the number of people receiving labor permits for foreign employment increased last year. In the fiscal year 2018/19, 508,528 people received labor permits. According to the data of the Department of Foreign Employment, that number increased to 567,839 during the last year (FY 2021/22).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the years in between, the number of people receiving labor permits decreased. Officials of the department say that the number of people taking labor permits decreased due to lockdown imposed in various countries with the onset of Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the fiscal year 2017/18, before the Prime Minister's Employment Programme started, 612,605 people received work permits.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This programme started by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security has not only failed to achieve its goals, but has also failed to achieve its objectives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The objectives of the programme include providing employment services and assistance necessary to guarantee minimum employment to unemployed people, promoting and expanding domestic employment by developing skilled and competent human resources. However, this programme failed to guarantee minimum employment to the unemployed people.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under the programme, more than 700,000 unemployed people are registered annually, among which, only less than 200,000 people get employment. Under the programme, 752,449 unemployed people were registered in the year 2020/21. During the last fiscal year, that number was 707,708.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the programme has also been unable to arrange training for the workers to acquire skills. Under the programme, it was informed that 200,000 people will be given employment for a minimum of 100 days a year. However, neither 200,000 people get the employment opportunity, nor can the receivers work for 100 days.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under this programme, 172,270 people were employed in the year 2018/19, which decreased to 105,626 in the year 2019/20. In the year 2020/21, the number of people who got employment was 181,091 while 147,456 people got employment during the last fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the last four years, workers have been unable to get work for 100 days a year. According to the data of the PM's Employment Programme, workers got an average of 13 days of work in the year 2018/19. In 2019/20, that number increased to 16 days. In the year 2020/21, workers got an average of 76 days of work, and in the last year, 2021/22, this number increased to 81.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since the objectives of the programme has not been fulfilled, questions are being raised on the rationale behind the programme.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Labor and immigration expert Som Luitel says that the PM's Employment Programme failed to achieve its objectives. “This programme was introduced to create jobs for the youth seeking foreign employment. Based on this, the programme has failed,” said Luitel.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He says that this programme is not suitable in terms of the days of employment and wages that the workers will get. Under the programme, workers are given a daily wage of Rs 570.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Luitel says that the PM's Employment Programme has turned into a political recruiting center and a show-off at the end of the fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Because of this, the programme has not been effective.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Secretary of the ministry Ek Narayan Aryal also admits that there are problems in the implementation of the programme.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that there were problems in the implementing the programme due to lack of ownership at the local level. “This programme is a 'mismatch' of the Agricultural Knowledge Center and the Prime Minister's Agricultural Modernization Project. The lowest level where all these programmes are implemented is the local level. But neither the PM's Agricultural Modernization Programme nor the PM's Employment Programme takes ownership,” he said. Aryal added that when he tried to get information about the progress of the programme from Joint Secretary Danduraj Ghimire, who is also the executive director of the PM's Employment Programme, he did not pick up the phone.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15664', 'image' => '20220904022534_PMEP.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 14:24:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15922', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Guidelines on Working Capital Loan Introduced to Control ‘Over Financing’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: Nepal Rastra Bank’s Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari has defended the central bank’s move to amend the Working Capital Loan Guidelines arguing that the new guidelines were introduced to control “over financing.”', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">September 4: Nepal Rastra Bank’s Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari has defended the central bank’s move to amend the Working Capital Loan Guidelines arguing that the new guidelines were introduced to control “over financing.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The NRB Governor made such remark while addressing the 24th annual general assembly of the Society of Economic Journalists Nepal (SEJON). His remark comes at a time when the industrialists have been protesting against the new guidelines on working capital loan.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Adhikari argued that the new provisions were introduced because the businessmen were using loans provided to meet their day-to-day expenses were spent on other purposes. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“There has been over financing in the name of banking capital,” said Adhikari, adding, “We were forced to control the loan after businessmen started using it for other purposes than it was intended for.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Adhikari said that the guidelines were being prepared since he was the deputy governor of NRB and the move has been praised by retired CEOs who spent considerable time in the banking sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He said that the business community did not reveal the entire picture while blaming the NRB move. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The businessmen are not speaking the right thing about the guidelines. They have a tendency to misuse the loan. If they improve in this front, the market will improve,” said Adhikari.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">For instance, Adhikari said if rice dealers are given excessive amount of loan as working capital they will purchase additional stock of rice. In doing so, the stock of rice gets expired and it is later sold after reprocessing, Adhikari said referring to the malpractice seen in this sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On the other hand, businessmen and industrialists say that the new guidelines on working capital loan have discouraged them. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As per the new guidelines, the central bank has capped the limit on working capital loan to 20 in case of a company whose annual transaction is less than Rs 20 million. However, they can avail up to 40 percent loan under special circumstances. In case of a company whose annual transaction is over Rs 20 million, they can avail 25 percent loan. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15663', 'image' => '20220904013755_1662273239.व्यवसायीलाई गभर्नरको जवाफ.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 13:37:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15921', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Trekking in Shey Phoksundo to Highlight Impact of Climate Change ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: A trekking with the participation of leading women figures from different sectors of the country is being held in the Shey Phoksundo area of Dolpa. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 4: A trekking with the participation of leading women figures from different sectors of the country is being held in the Shey Phoksundo area of Dolpa. Sath Sathai Foundation, an NGO active in the fields of climate change, social development and women's empowerment, is organizing the trekking from October 8 to 14 in order to highlight adverse impact of climate change. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the trek, an interaction on Shey Phoksundo Lake conservation, nature-based tourism development and the impact of climate change on local people's lives will be held, said Prajita Karki, the chairperson of the foundation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A special interaction titled 'Women's voices from the mountains, women's solidarity for climate justice and the development of nature-based tourism' will be held in Shey Phoksundo. Around 60 participants including women experts from various fields are going to trek to draw the attention towards the impact of climate change on women's lives and tourism in the high Himalayan region, according to a statement issued by the foundation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Karki said the trek is a journey to understand, discuss and find solutions to the impact of climate change on nature, nature-based tourism and on the lives of locals. Leading women from various sectors of the society as well as officials from various levels of the federal, provincial and local governments, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions, and media persons will participate in the one-week trek. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A Shey Phoksundo manifesto shall also be issued in the presence of representatives from various provinces, MPs, provincial assembly members and local people's representatives. The event will be held in collaboration with the Ministry of Forest and Environment, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Government of Karnali Province, Phoksundo Rural Municipality and various national and international organizations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Despite the insignificant contribution to carbon emissions, we want to tell the world about the problems seen in the nature and social life of Nepal due to climate change. We want to cooperate with the government of Nepal and related agencies," said Chairperson Karki. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, the foundation had organised a 14-day trek on the occasion of International Women's Day to Kalapathar at the base of Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world. Around 40 prominent women leaders from different sectors of the society trekked from to Kalapathar and issued a 10-point special manifesto on climate change. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15662', 'image' => '20220904011304_bibek-raj-shrestha-z2m3t4z88aI-unsplash-1024x685.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 13:12:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15920', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India to Give Access to Mundra and Dhamra Ports to Traders of Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: India has decided to allow Nepal utilize two more sea ports for overseas trade.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 4: India has decided to allow Nepal utilize two more sea ports for overseas trade. So far, Nepal has been using three ports of India for trade with third countries while two additional ports will be allowed for foreign trade from next year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> Indian newspaper The Print recently published a news stating that India is preparing to open access to Dhamra Port in Orissa state and Mundra port in Gujarat for Nepalese traders.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Referring to Indian diplomatic sources, The Print wrote that under India has decided to allow Nepal use these ports for import and export under its Neighbor First Policy and the two countries are in dialogue for the necessary preparations.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to The Print, Nepal will be allowed to use the two additional ports through the revision of the Nepal-India Transit Treaty in 2023. An agreement in-principle was reached in 2018 at the Nepal-India intergovernmental meeting for Nepal to use these ports for trade with third countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal has also submitted a draft regarding the use of these ports to the Indian authorities. This will make Nepal's foreign trade more competitive, says Ashok Kumar Temani, coordinator of the Transport Committee of Madhes chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Trade and Industry. Temani pointed out the need for diplomatic initiatives to widen the range of port selection to reduce the transportation cost in business.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Businessmen of Nepal are currently using India's Kolkata, Haldia and Visakhapatnam ports. Due to the physical limitations of Kolkata and Haldia and the long distance of Visakhapatnam port, Dhamra port can become an alternative. Dhamra is at a distance of 300 km from Kolkata and 400 km from Visakhapatnam.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Importers opined that both Dhamra and Mundra ports operated by Adani Group, which is working on port and rail infrastructure, will help in reducing the cost of overseas trade in Nepal. Temani says that Mundra port is suitable for shipping from the western border of Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Importers say that Dhamra port is easier for Nepal than other ports for both bulk and container cargo coming from third countries. In the past few years, investment in the infrastructure and operation of container cargo in Dhamra has increased. This port is going to prepare 35 berth stations for container and bulk cargo by 2025.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dhamra Port can be used as an alternative to the poor infrastructure of canal-based Kolkata Port and the long-distance to Visakhapatnam Port, says Ravi Shankar Sainju, former joint secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Madhav Rajpal, vice president of Birgunj Merchants Association, and an importer argues that the problem of lack of trains at Haldia port will be solved after this port comes into use. Dhamra Port is only 150 km away from Haldia.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15661', 'image' => '20220904122922_Dhamra-Port-COVID-19-Coronavirus.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 12:28:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15919', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'More than 300K Tourists Visit Nepal This Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: The number of foreign tourists visiting Nepal has climbed to 326,667 as of August 2022 this year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">September 4: The number of foreign tourists visiting Nepal has climbed to 326,667 as of August 2022 this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the data published by Nepal Tourism Board, a total of 41,304 arrived in Nepal in the month of August. The number of tourists visiting Nepal in the review month is comparatively less than the figures of the last five months. However, tourist arrival during this August is more than that of last August, when only 5,917 tourists had visited Nepal due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In August 2020, only 256 tourists had visited Nepal, according to NTB.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Tourist arrival this year is the highest since the onset of coronavirus pandemic. However, tourism entrepreneurs claim that it will still take three more years to reach the pre-pandemic level provided that there is no more obstructions. They estimate that around 1.2 million tourists will likely visit Nepal annually by 2025 if the current situation prevails. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Tourism entrepreneur Yogendra Shakya says that they were not expecting more than 300000 tourists to visit Nepal so soon. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We were afraid that this year would also be the same as the last few years. However, the arrival of tourists must be considered as a positive sign,” said Shakya.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, the bookings ahead of the tourist season is not satisfactory, says Shakya. He claimed that the tourists visiting Nepal in groups is not much encouraging and online booking by individual tourists is not likely to improve the situation much. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Shakya estimates that between 500,000 to 700,000 tourists will likely visit Nepal looking at the current situation. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Before the coronavirus pandemic, the highest number of tourists visiting Nepal were from China. However, Chinese tourists are yet to arrive in large number this year. The number of tourists visiting Nepal from SAARC nations was the highest in August. A total of 18,852 tourists visited Nepal from SAARC nations including India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in August this year. Among them, 16,147 tourists were from India alone followed by 1751 visitors from Bangladesh.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, a total of 7875 tourists arrived in Nepal from European countries including Germany, France, Belgium, Denmark, Russia, the UK, and Sweden in the review month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Among them, most of the tourists were from UK. According to NTB, altogether 2826 tourists visited Nepal from the UK in August.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Similarly, 4091 tourists arrived in Nepal from other Asian countries besides SAARC nations. Tourists from China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Myanmar and Thailand visited Nepal during the review period. A total of 1289 tourists from China visited Nepal in August. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The number of tourists visiting Nepal from the USA and Canada stood at 4618 while 449 tourists from the Middle East and Turkey also visited Nepal.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15660', 'image' => '20220904111044_Tourist.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 11:10:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15918', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Collaboration between QFX Cinema and Khalti', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: QFX Cinema has collaborated with Khalti digital wallet to facilitate its customers in making digital payment for cinema tickets.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 2: QFX Cinema has collaborated with Khalti digital wallet to facilitate its customers in making digital payment for cinema tickets.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The two organisations signed an agreement to this effect for a period of three years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the agreement, customers of QFX Cinema can now purchase QFX movie tickets within 50 seconds through QFX App/Web as well as Pocket App. The company informed that this facility will also be available to the customers of Khalti. In addition, this feature will be available especially in the digital wallet app.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Previously, QFX movie ticket purchase could be done only by logging in to QFX's website or through QFX's app. Now QFX customers and Khalti users can directly purchase movie tickets through the Khalti app. Also, the company says that one can buy tickets from QFX's app/web and pay with Khalti. The agreement has been implemented since August 17.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15659', 'image' => '20220902044724_1661986826.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 16:46:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15917', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Ncell Bags Nepal’s Fastest Mobile Network Award', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: Ncell Axiata Limited has bagged the award for being ‘Nepal’s Fastest Mobile Network’. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">September 2: Ncell Axiata Limited has bagged the award for being ‘Nepal’s Fastest Mobile Network’. Ookla, a global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence, handed over the award to Ncell for January-June 2022.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A statement issued by Ncell says that the company achieved a speed score of 17.16, with median download speeds of 17.31 Mbps and median upload speeds of 9.26 Mbps, securing the best speed in the market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We are delighted that our continuous efforts to connect Nepal with high-speed mobile broadband have been recognised as the ‘Fastest Mobile Network in Nepal’ by the global leader in speed testing,” statement quoted Andy Chong, CEO of Ncell as saying. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The award is a testimony that we deliver what we commit to our customers. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all stakeholders for their trust and for helping us deliver the fastest mobile data service,” he added.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15658', 'image' => '20220905011314_1662026062.ncell.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 16:41:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15916', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '27 MW of Electricity added to the National Grid', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: Altogether 27 MW of electricity has been added to the national transmission line on Tuesday after the completion of Dordikhola hydropower project in Lamjung. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 2: Altogether 27 MW of electricity has been added to the national transmission line on Tuesday after the completion of Dordikhola hydropower project in Lamjung. The project was developed by the Himalayan Power Partner Limited Company in Dordi rural municipality.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The electricity produced by the project was connected to the national transmission line in the presence of Jiva Lamichhane, chairman of Himalaya Power Partner Limited and former president of Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRN) and Chandra Dhakal, chairman of IME Group which has invested in the project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Lamichhane claimed that the non-resident Nepalis opened NRN Infrastructure and Development Company and invested in the Dordikhola hydropower project when he was the president of NRN.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He expressed happiness for getting an opportunity to work together with successful businessmen in Nepal and that the electricity produced by the investment of non-resident Nepalis has been connected to the national transmission line.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, IME Group Chairman Dhakal expressed his joy that the Dordikhola hydropower project has now been completed.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He urged non-resident Nepalis to invest in hydropower, tourism, and infrastructure in the future.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The project started construction seven years ago with the aim of producing electricity within three years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Munn Shakya, the project head, said the construction was delayed due to India's blockade, water from the Masryangdi river entering the powerhouse and causing damage to the machinery and various other reasons.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The dam site of the project is 212 meters. There is a powerhouse in Benisahar Municipality-11 Ramchok Besi. A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was signed between the Nepal Electricity Authority and the company almost a decade ago.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The non-resident Nepali Association has 35.7 per cent share in the company, IME Group 34.3 per cent and the general public 30 per cent stake in the project. According to the project, although the project was estimated to cost around Rs 3.86 billion, the actual cost was more than Rs 5 billion.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15657', 'image' => '20220902043639_Transmission.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 16:36:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15915', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Banks Reducing Credit Flow due to Increase in Risk Weightage', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: After the Nepal Rastra Bank increased the risk weightage to discourage investment in unproductive sector, banks have started reducing credit flow in those areas.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 2: After the Nepal Rastra Bank increased the risk weightage to discourage investment in unproductive sector, banks have started reducing credit flow in those areas.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The increase in risk weightage has put pressure on the capital adequacy ratio of banks resulting in a decline in credit flow to the unproductive sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the half-yearly review of the monetary policy of the last fiscal year, the NRB announced that it will review the risk weightage of loans on import as well as trust receipts, personal overdrafts, real estate loan, personal higher purchases and margin loans. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In line with the decision, the central bank announced in February that the risk weightage of personal overdraft and vehicle purchase loans, as well as real estate and share mortgage loans has been increased to 150 per cent, and the risk weight of Trust Receipt (TR) has been increased to 120 per cent. This new risk weightage has been implemented since mid-June.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Issuing a circular on August 3, the central bank has made arrangement for issuing 30 percent loan against collateral of land in case of Kathmandu valley and 40 percent outside the valley.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This provision will be applicable for renewing overdrafts or providing mortgage loans, property loans, personal periodic loans, and share loans.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the new policy of the NRB, personal overdrafts, purchases of vehicles, share mortgages, and imports have started to decrease.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the central bank, there has been a huge decline in the Trust Receipt loans, which are mostly used for imports. This loan, which increased by 48.7 per cent in the last fiscal year, decreased by 61.9 per cent recently. In addition to increasing the risk weightage, the NRB imposed a provision of cash margin on the import of some goods and the government also banned the import of luxury goods. Similarly, the NRB has cut the gold import quota by half. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15656', 'image' => '20220902042350_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 16:23:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15914', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '476 Local Units Fully Electrified', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: Government's plan of providing electricity facility to every household of Nepal is in the phase of completion.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 2: Government's plan of providing electricity facility to every household of Nepal is in the phase of completion. The remaining houses of Nepali citizens would have access to clean energy within two years if the activities are forwarded as per the government's plan. Out of 753 local levels, 476 local levels have been fully electrified. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, 242 local levels have been partly electrified. The government and Nepal Electricity Authority have been involved in a plan to provide full services to the partly electrified local-levels. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, 35 local levels have not yet received any electricity service. The NEA has been taking initiatives in a planned manner keeping these local levels in mind. Specially, some local levels of Karnali yet to benefit from electricity service. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NEA has already announced tender by making arrangement of budget worth Rs 28 billion to electrify these areas. The NEA has made preparation to provide access to electricity in all the local levels within the next two years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the Electrification Statistics-2079 prepared by the NEA by carrying out detailed study of all local levels, out of the total population of Nepal, 92.51 per cent population have access to electricity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Madhes province has the highest electrification rate of 99.95 per cent and the lowest is in Karnali province which is 56.79 per cent. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Province 1 has 91.23 per cent electrification, 97.47 per cent in Bagmati, 97.76 per cent in Gandaki, 96.73 per cent in Lumbini and 78.85 per cent in Sudurpaschim provinces. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">So far, 42 districts, out of 77, are fully electrified. They are Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Dhankuta, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Kavrepalanchowk, Sindhupalchowk, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dhading, Chitwan, Tanahu, Lamjung, Kaski, Syangja, Palpa, Parbat, Mustang, Baglung, Gulmi, Pyuthan, Nawalparasai ( Bardghat-Susta East), Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Arghakhanchi, Kapilvastu, Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, 14 districts : Ilam, Panchthar, Tehrathum, Sankhuwasabha, Khotang, Udaypur, Sindhuli, Makwanpur, Gorkha, Palpa, Myagdi, Rukum West, Doti and Dadeldhura have witnessed 75-95 percent of electrification while 10 districts : Taplejung, Bhojpur, Okhaldhunga, Manang, Rolpa, Salyan, Surkhet, Dailekh, Achham and Darchula have reported 50-75 percent electrification. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Seven districts: Rukum East, Jumla, Kalikot, Mugu, Humla, Bajhang and Baitadi are those district where 25-50 percent electrification has been carried out so far while four districts: Solukhumbu, Dolpa, Jajarkot and Bajura has just 25 percent electrification. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dolpa, Mugu and Humla still have no access to national grid and the government has the programme of implementing the electrification project: solar and micro hydropower through the Alternative Energy Promotion Center. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NEA managing director Kulman Ghishing said works are in progress in a planned way in line with the government's announcement to ensure reliable and quality electricity service to the entire Nepali people by 2024. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the fiscal year 2072-73 BS, only 62.16 percent households in Nepal were electrified and now this figure has increased to 92. 51 percent. Four provinces, out of seven, are almost completely electrified. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The electrification in Karnali Province has been slightly delayed due to its geographical challenges and remoteness. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NEA is implementing the electrification projects in hill districts of Lumbini, Karnali and Sudur Paschim Province with around Rs 28 billion soft loan from the Asian Infrastructure Bank and the European Investment Bank. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15655', 'image' => '20220902101559_elec.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 10:15:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15913', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '167 Climbers Granted Permission to Scale Mountain Peaks in Autumn Season', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: The Department of Tourism has granted permission to the citizens of 34 countries to climb mountain peaks during the autumn season.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">September 2: The Department of Tourism has granted permission to the citizens of 34 countries to climb mountain peaks during the autumn season. According to the department, a total of 167 climbers have been granted permission to climb six different peaks including Mount Everest as of August 31.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The climbers have been issued permits to scale Mt Everest, Dhaulagiri, Himlung, Manaslu, Nuptse and Saribung, informed the department.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government has collected royalties worth Rs 21.3 million so far from issuing climbing permits this season. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Altogether 19 expedition teams have acquired permits so far. Most of the climbers will be scaling Mt Manaslu this season. A total of 114 climbers from 14 expedition teams have been issued permits to climb Manaslu. Among them, 117 are male and 31 are female climbers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, only five climbers including a woman have taken permission to climb Mt Everest in the autumn season. Mostly, climbers in large number scale the world’s highest peak during the spring season.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Most of the climbers who took permission to climb the mountains are from the USA. A total of 33 climbers from the USA have taken permission to climb the peaks this season. Argentina ranks second with 16 climbers being issued climbing permits followed by Spain (12), China (11), India (11) and the UAE (10). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Similarly, climbers from Bangladesh, France, Japan, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Morocco, Poland, Canada and Australia have also been granted climbing permits. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The number of tourists visiting Nepal has increased in recent days.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15654', 'image' => '20220902100717_maxresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 10:06:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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According to the ministry, the bill has included a provision that requires license for any individual or institution to get involved in real estate business. Such a provision has been include in Section 7(A) of the Land Revenue Act 2034. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Furthermore, anyone found involved in real estate business without acquiring license will be fined Rs 1 million. The new arrangement will be applicable only after the bill is endorsed by the parliament and then authenticated by the president.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">So far, individuals and institutions are involved in real estate business without any license. The government had earlier announced in the budget for the current fiscal year that any individual or institution will be allowed to get involved in real estate business in metropolitan cities and sub metropolis only after acquiring license. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government has made attempt to regulate the real estate business after a long debate. The National Risk Evaluation Report prepared by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers two years ago states that the real estate sector falls under the risk of money laundering.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Any individual or institution interested to acquire license for real estate business needs to submit the details and documents along with the prescribed fees to the concerned official once this new provision is published in the Nepal Gazette.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government is likely to authorize an official of the federal government or the provincial government to issue license for the real estate business. Anyone fulfilling the required criteria can acquire the license. The bill has proposed the validity of such license for a period of five years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Earlier, the government was planning to form a separate authority to regulate the real estate sector but the bill is not clear which unit of the government will issue the license and regulate the real estate business. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-05', 'modified' => '2022-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15668', 'image' => '20220905105350_Real estate.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-05 10:53:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15926', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Sunrise Bank Bags Excellence in Product Innovation Award', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: Sunrise Bank has been awarded with the “Excellence in Product Innovation 2022 Award” by Visa International. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 4: Sunrise Bank has been awarded with the “Excellence in Product Innovation 2022 Award” by Visa International. The award was handed over to Robin Kumar Nepal, deputy general manager of the bank, in the presence of Deputy Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, Neelam Dungana Timsina, during an event held in Kathmandu on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bank managed to bag the award for providing latest services to the cooperative members by including them in the Visa network and connecting them to the digital payment system. The bank also provided the facility of paying electricity bills by making a missed call for the first time in Nepal. Furthermore, the bank has been providing various banking services with up-to-date technology through 139 branches, 95 branchless banking services, 13 extension counters and 159 ATMs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15667', 'image' => '20220904041349_Visa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 16:13:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15925', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Farmers' Attraction to Jute Farming Waning ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: The farmers in the Tarai-Madhes region are gradually losing interest in cultivation of jute, which was once the major cash crop of the region.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 4: The farmers in the Tarai-Madhes region are gradually losing interest in cultivation of jute, which was once the major cash crop of the region. Especially, jute cultivation was widely done in Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa districts of the eastern Tarai. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, it is found that jute farming no longer is the attraction of farmers in recent years due to the low returns on investment, the lack of availability of new jute processing technology and the labour shortage. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jute cultivation is gradually declining owing to the cumbersome processing and labour shortage. Another factor that is behind the decline in jute cultivation is the lack of irrigation facility. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jute farming has reduced by more than half in Paschim Kushaha, Laukahi, Shreepur and Haripur and Narasingh Bhokraha areas in southern part of Sunsari district. These areas were the main jute farming areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, jute cultivation in Kaptangunj, Madhya Harshahi, Ramgunj Sinuwari, Sahengunj and Babiya, Jalpapur areas has also reduced more than half these days, said Birendra Yadav, a local farmer. He said they would cultivate jute if the local government provided the farmers with subsidies. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Until some years ago, farmers in Sunsari used to make a decent income from jute farming. But these days they cultivate jute only for using it as firewood. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the FY, 2018/19, jute cultivation in Province 1 spread across 7,285 hectares of lands, producing 12,959 metric tonnes of raw jute. Similarly, jute cultivation spanned over 7,555 hectares in the FY, 2019/20, producing 10,165 metric tonnes. In the FY, 2020/21, the cultivation spread across 7,415 hectares. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jute cultivation had been on the decline since some years, according to Tirtha Raj Rijal, chief of the Jute Research Center, Itahari. Technical difficulties in jute cultivation is blamed for its decline, he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lately, jute industries in the country have shut down due to various reasons. In view of a decline in its production, the government at all three levels should bring various programmes to encourage farmers, he stressed. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15666', 'image' => '20220904040338_20220711053930_jute-sacks-500x500.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 16:02:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15924', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Economy Returning Back on Track: Finance Minister', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said that the economy is gradually returning back to normalcy.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 4: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said that the economy is gradually returning back to normalcy. Finance Minister Sharma made such remark at the opening session of the 24th Annual General Meeting of the Society of Economic Journalists of Nepal (SEJON).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He said that the economy has started to improve because the policies adopted by the government on time. Finance Minister Sharma said that the remittance inflow has increased as the festive season approaches and the country's economy is getting stronger as a result. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He believes that the increase in remittance inflow will relieve the pressure on foreign exchange reserves and it will make the economy stronger. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sharma said that the government will pay attention to the budget expenditure to prevent liquidity crisis and informed that all the ministries have been instructed to make the budget expenditure effective in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Minister Sharma also urged the private sector to increase investment in the productive sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission Dr Bishwanath Paudel said that due to the right decisions and policies of the government and Nepal Rastra Bank, the economy has moved in the right direction. He said that the practice of taking bribes while granting licenses in Nepal has increased and such trend should come to an end. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“There are various kinds of rumors while giving license in Nepal. There are syndicates in every sector. Many types of monopolies have flourished, so the license rule must end,” said Paudel.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Paudel added that the habit of saving money has gradually started to develop in Nepal and that will also help to take the economy to the path of prosperity. According to him, the tendency to save money is increasing. He argued that the foreign exchange reserves will increase due to the increase in remittance inflow, and the economy will become stronger. In the next five years, the construction of some road projects will be completed and it will further improve the economy, said Paudel. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He suggested increasing investment in the manufacturing and service sectors to boost the economy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, Chandra Prasad Dhakal, senior vice president of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries, pointed out that Nepal's economy is moving in the positive direction. He added that the central bank needs to be cautious, saying that Nepal should not follow the footsteps of Sri Lanka, as it is being rumored in the market. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15665', 'image' => '20220904035348_fin min sharma.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 15:53:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15923', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Objectives of PMEP Remains Unfulfilled', 'sub_title' => 'Rs 17 Billion Spent Under PM Employment Programme in 4 Years ', 'summary' => 'September 4: The goal of the Prime Minister's Employment Programme launched by the government in the fiscal year 2018/19 was to increase employment opportunities within the country and promote social security.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 4: The goal of the Prime Minister's Employment Programme launched by the government in the fiscal year 2018/19 was to increase employment opportunities within the country and promote social security. However, even after four years since the initiation of the programme, the status of employment opportunities in the country remains the same. The fact that the number of people seeking foreign employment has not declined stands as a testimony to this. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to the year when the PM's Employment Programme started, the number of people receiving labor permits for foreign employment increased last year. In the fiscal year 2018/19, 508,528 people received labor permits. According to the data of the Department of Foreign Employment, that number increased to 567,839 during the last year (FY 2021/22).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the years in between, the number of people receiving labor permits decreased. Officials of the department say that the number of people taking labor permits decreased due to lockdown imposed in various countries with the onset of Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the fiscal year 2017/18, before the Prime Minister's Employment Programme started, 612,605 people received work permits.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This programme started by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security has not only failed to achieve its goals, but has also failed to achieve its objectives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The objectives of the programme include providing employment services and assistance necessary to guarantee minimum employment to unemployed people, promoting and expanding domestic employment by developing skilled and competent human resources. However, this programme failed to guarantee minimum employment to the unemployed people.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under the programme, more than 700,000 unemployed people are registered annually, among which, only less than 200,000 people get employment. Under the programme, 752,449 unemployed people were registered in the year 2020/21. During the last fiscal year, that number was 707,708.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the programme has also been unable to arrange training for the workers to acquire skills. Under the programme, it was informed that 200,000 people will be given employment for a minimum of 100 days a year. However, neither 200,000 people get the employment opportunity, nor can the receivers work for 100 days.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under this programme, 172,270 people were employed in the year 2018/19, which decreased to 105,626 in the year 2019/20. In the year 2020/21, the number of people who got employment was 181,091 while 147,456 people got employment during the last fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the last four years, workers have been unable to get work for 100 days a year. According to the data of the PM's Employment Programme, workers got an average of 13 days of work in the year 2018/19. In 2019/20, that number increased to 16 days. In the year 2020/21, workers got an average of 76 days of work, and in the last year, 2021/22, this number increased to 81.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since the objectives of the programme has not been fulfilled, questions are being raised on the rationale behind the programme.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Labor and immigration expert Som Luitel says that the PM's Employment Programme failed to achieve its objectives. “This programme was introduced to create jobs for the youth seeking foreign employment. Based on this, the programme has failed,” said Luitel.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He says that this programme is not suitable in terms of the days of employment and wages that the workers will get. Under the programme, workers are given a daily wage of Rs 570.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Luitel says that the PM's Employment Programme has turned into a political recruiting center and a show-off at the end of the fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Because of this, the programme has not been effective.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Secretary of the ministry Ek Narayan Aryal also admits that there are problems in the implementation of the programme.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that there were problems in the implementing the programme due to lack of ownership at the local level. “This programme is a 'mismatch' of the Agricultural Knowledge Center and the Prime Minister's Agricultural Modernization Project. The lowest level where all these programmes are implemented is the local level. But neither the PM's Agricultural Modernization Programme nor the PM's Employment Programme takes ownership,” he said. Aryal added that when he tried to get information about the progress of the programme from Joint Secretary Danduraj Ghimire, who is also the executive director of the PM's Employment Programme, he did not pick up the phone.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15664', 'image' => '20220904022534_PMEP.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 14:24:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15922', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Guidelines on Working Capital Loan Introduced to Control ‘Over Financing’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: Nepal Rastra Bank’s Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari has defended the central bank’s move to amend the Working Capital Loan Guidelines arguing that the new guidelines were introduced to control “over financing.”', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">September 4: Nepal Rastra Bank’s Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari has defended the central bank’s move to amend the Working Capital Loan Guidelines arguing that the new guidelines were introduced to control “over financing.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The NRB Governor made such remark while addressing the 24th annual general assembly of the Society of Economic Journalists Nepal (SEJON). His remark comes at a time when the industrialists have been protesting against the new guidelines on working capital loan.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Adhikari argued that the new provisions were introduced because the businessmen were using loans provided to meet their day-to-day expenses were spent on other purposes. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“There has been over financing in the name of banking capital,” said Adhikari, adding, “We were forced to control the loan after businessmen started using it for other purposes than it was intended for.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Adhikari said that the guidelines were being prepared since he was the deputy governor of NRB and the move has been praised by retired CEOs who spent considerable time in the banking sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He said that the business community did not reveal the entire picture while blaming the NRB move. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The businessmen are not speaking the right thing about the guidelines. They have a tendency to misuse the loan. If they improve in this front, the market will improve,” said Adhikari.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">For instance, Adhikari said if rice dealers are given excessive amount of loan as working capital they will purchase additional stock of rice. In doing so, the stock of rice gets expired and it is later sold after reprocessing, Adhikari said referring to the malpractice seen in this sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On the other hand, businessmen and industrialists say that the new guidelines on working capital loan have discouraged them. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As per the new guidelines, the central bank has capped the limit on working capital loan to 20 in case of a company whose annual transaction is less than Rs 20 million. However, they can avail up to 40 percent loan under special circumstances. In case of a company whose annual transaction is over Rs 20 million, they can avail 25 percent loan. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15663', 'image' => '20220904013755_1662273239.व्यवसायीलाई गभर्नरको जवाफ.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 13:37:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15921', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Trekking in Shey Phoksundo to Highlight Impact of Climate Change ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: A trekking with the participation of leading women figures from different sectors of the country is being held in the Shey Phoksundo area of Dolpa. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 4: A trekking with the participation of leading women figures from different sectors of the country is being held in the Shey Phoksundo area of Dolpa. Sath Sathai Foundation, an NGO active in the fields of climate change, social development and women's empowerment, is organizing the trekking from October 8 to 14 in order to highlight adverse impact of climate change. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the trek, an interaction on Shey Phoksundo Lake conservation, nature-based tourism development and the impact of climate change on local people's lives will be held, said Prajita Karki, the chairperson of the foundation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A special interaction titled 'Women's voices from the mountains, women's solidarity for climate justice and the development of nature-based tourism' will be held in Shey Phoksundo. Around 60 participants including women experts from various fields are going to trek to draw the attention towards the impact of climate change on women's lives and tourism in the high Himalayan region, according to a statement issued by the foundation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Karki said the trek is a journey to understand, discuss and find solutions to the impact of climate change on nature, nature-based tourism and on the lives of locals. Leading women from various sectors of the society as well as officials from various levels of the federal, provincial and local governments, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions, and media persons will participate in the one-week trek. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A Shey Phoksundo manifesto shall also be issued in the presence of representatives from various provinces, MPs, provincial assembly members and local people's representatives. The event will be held in collaboration with the Ministry of Forest and Environment, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Government of Karnali Province, Phoksundo Rural Municipality and various national and international organizations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Despite the insignificant contribution to carbon emissions, we want to tell the world about the problems seen in the nature and social life of Nepal due to climate change. We want to cooperate with the government of Nepal and related agencies," said Chairperson Karki. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, the foundation had organised a 14-day trek on the occasion of International Women's Day to Kalapathar at the base of Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world. Around 40 prominent women leaders from different sectors of the society trekked from to Kalapathar and issued a 10-point special manifesto on climate change. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15662', 'image' => '20220904011304_bibek-raj-shrestha-z2m3t4z88aI-unsplash-1024x685.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 13:12:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15920', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India to Give Access to Mundra and Dhamra Ports to Traders of Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: India has decided to allow Nepal utilize two more sea ports for overseas trade.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 4: India has decided to allow Nepal utilize two more sea ports for overseas trade. So far, Nepal has been using three ports of India for trade with third countries while two additional ports will be allowed for foreign trade from next year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> Indian newspaper The Print recently published a news stating that India is preparing to open access to Dhamra Port in Orissa state and Mundra port in Gujarat for Nepalese traders.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Referring to Indian diplomatic sources, The Print wrote that under India has decided to allow Nepal use these ports for import and export under its Neighbor First Policy and the two countries are in dialogue for the necessary preparations.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to The Print, Nepal will be allowed to use the two additional ports through the revision of the Nepal-India Transit Treaty in 2023. An agreement in-principle was reached in 2018 at the Nepal-India intergovernmental meeting for Nepal to use these ports for trade with third countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal has also submitted a draft regarding the use of these ports to the Indian authorities. This will make Nepal's foreign trade more competitive, says Ashok Kumar Temani, coordinator of the Transport Committee of Madhes chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Trade and Industry. Temani pointed out the need for diplomatic initiatives to widen the range of port selection to reduce the transportation cost in business.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Businessmen of Nepal are currently using India's Kolkata, Haldia and Visakhapatnam ports. Due to the physical limitations of Kolkata and Haldia and the long distance of Visakhapatnam port, Dhamra port can become an alternative. Dhamra is at a distance of 300 km from Kolkata and 400 km from Visakhapatnam.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Importers opined that both Dhamra and Mundra ports operated by Adani Group, which is working on port and rail infrastructure, will help in reducing the cost of overseas trade in Nepal. Temani says that Mundra port is suitable for shipping from the western border of Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Importers say that Dhamra port is easier for Nepal than other ports for both bulk and container cargo coming from third countries. In the past few years, investment in the infrastructure and operation of container cargo in Dhamra has increased. This port is going to prepare 35 berth stations for container and bulk cargo by 2025.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dhamra Port can be used as an alternative to the poor infrastructure of canal-based Kolkata Port and the long-distance to Visakhapatnam Port, says Ravi Shankar Sainju, former joint secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Madhav Rajpal, vice president of Birgunj Merchants Association, and an importer argues that the problem of lack of trains at Haldia port will be solved after this port comes into use. Dhamra Port is only 150 km away from Haldia.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15661', 'image' => '20220904122922_Dhamra-Port-COVID-19-Coronavirus.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 12:28:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15919', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'More than 300K Tourists Visit Nepal This Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: The number of foreign tourists visiting Nepal has climbed to 326,667 as of August 2022 this year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">September 4: The number of foreign tourists visiting Nepal has climbed to 326,667 as of August 2022 this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the data published by Nepal Tourism Board, a total of 41,304 arrived in Nepal in the month of August. The number of tourists visiting Nepal in the review month is comparatively less than the figures of the last five months. However, tourist arrival during this August is more than that of last August, when only 5,917 tourists had visited Nepal due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In August 2020, only 256 tourists had visited Nepal, according to NTB.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Tourist arrival this year is the highest since the onset of coronavirus pandemic. However, tourism entrepreneurs claim that it will still take three more years to reach the pre-pandemic level provided that there is no more obstructions. They estimate that around 1.2 million tourists will likely visit Nepal annually by 2025 if the current situation prevails. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Tourism entrepreneur Yogendra Shakya says that they were not expecting more than 300000 tourists to visit Nepal so soon. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We were afraid that this year would also be the same as the last few years. However, the arrival of tourists must be considered as a positive sign,” said Shakya.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, the bookings ahead of the tourist season is not satisfactory, says Shakya. He claimed that the tourists visiting Nepal in groups is not much encouraging and online booking by individual tourists is not likely to improve the situation much. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Shakya estimates that between 500,000 to 700,000 tourists will likely visit Nepal looking at the current situation. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Before the coronavirus pandemic, the highest number of tourists visiting Nepal were from China. However, Chinese tourists are yet to arrive in large number this year. The number of tourists visiting Nepal from SAARC nations was the highest in August. A total of 18,852 tourists visited Nepal from SAARC nations including India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in August this year. Among them, 16,147 tourists were from India alone followed by 1751 visitors from Bangladesh.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, a total of 7875 tourists arrived in Nepal from European countries including Germany, France, Belgium, Denmark, Russia, the UK, and Sweden in the review month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Among them, most of the tourists were from UK. According to NTB, altogether 2826 tourists visited Nepal from the UK in August.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Similarly, 4091 tourists arrived in Nepal from other Asian countries besides SAARC nations. Tourists from China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Myanmar and Thailand visited Nepal during the review period. A total of 1289 tourists from China visited Nepal in August. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The number of tourists visiting Nepal from the USA and Canada stood at 4618 while 449 tourists from the Middle East and Turkey also visited Nepal.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15660', 'image' => '20220904111044_Tourist.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 11:10:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15918', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Collaboration between QFX Cinema and Khalti', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: QFX Cinema has collaborated with Khalti digital wallet to facilitate its customers in making digital payment for cinema tickets.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 2: QFX Cinema has collaborated with Khalti digital wallet to facilitate its customers in making digital payment for cinema tickets.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The two organisations signed an agreement to this effect for a period of three years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the agreement, customers of QFX Cinema can now purchase QFX movie tickets within 50 seconds through QFX App/Web as well as Pocket App. The company informed that this facility will also be available to the customers of Khalti. In addition, this feature will be available especially in the digital wallet app.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Previously, QFX movie ticket purchase could be done only by logging in to QFX's website or through QFX's app. Now QFX customers and Khalti users can directly purchase movie tickets through the Khalti app. Also, the company says that one can buy tickets from QFX's app/web and pay with Khalti. The agreement has been implemented since August 17.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15659', 'image' => '20220902044724_1661986826.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 16:46:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15917', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Ncell Bags Nepal’s Fastest Mobile Network Award', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: Ncell Axiata Limited has bagged the award for being ‘Nepal’s Fastest Mobile Network’. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">September 2: Ncell Axiata Limited has bagged the award for being ‘Nepal’s Fastest Mobile Network’. Ookla, a global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence, handed over the award to Ncell for January-June 2022.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A statement issued by Ncell says that the company achieved a speed score of 17.16, with median download speeds of 17.31 Mbps and median upload speeds of 9.26 Mbps, securing the best speed in the market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We are delighted that our continuous efforts to connect Nepal with high-speed mobile broadband have been recognised as the ‘Fastest Mobile Network in Nepal’ by the global leader in speed testing,” statement quoted Andy Chong, CEO of Ncell as saying. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The award is a testimony that we deliver what we commit to our customers. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all stakeholders for their trust and for helping us deliver the fastest mobile data service,” he added.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15658', 'image' => '20220905011314_1662026062.ncell.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 16:41:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15916', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '27 MW of Electricity added to the National Grid', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: Altogether 27 MW of electricity has been added to the national transmission line on Tuesday after the completion of Dordikhola hydropower project in Lamjung. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 2: Altogether 27 MW of electricity has been added to the national transmission line on Tuesday after the completion of Dordikhola hydropower project in Lamjung. The project was developed by the Himalayan Power Partner Limited Company in Dordi rural municipality.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The electricity produced by the project was connected to the national transmission line in the presence of Jiva Lamichhane, chairman of Himalaya Power Partner Limited and former president of Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRN) and Chandra Dhakal, chairman of IME Group which has invested in the project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Lamichhane claimed that the non-resident Nepalis opened NRN Infrastructure and Development Company and invested in the Dordikhola hydropower project when he was the president of NRN.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He expressed happiness for getting an opportunity to work together with successful businessmen in Nepal and that the electricity produced by the investment of non-resident Nepalis has been connected to the national transmission line.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, IME Group Chairman Dhakal expressed his joy that the Dordikhola hydropower project has now been completed.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He urged non-resident Nepalis to invest in hydropower, tourism, and infrastructure in the future.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The project started construction seven years ago with the aim of producing electricity within three years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Munn Shakya, the project head, said the construction was delayed due to India's blockade, water from the Masryangdi river entering the powerhouse and causing damage to the machinery and various other reasons.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The dam site of the project is 212 meters. There is a powerhouse in Benisahar Municipality-11 Ramchok Besi. A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was signed between the Nepal Electricity Authority and the company almost a decade ago.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The non-resident Nepali Association has 35.7 per cent share in the company, IME Group 34.3 per cent and the general public 30 per cent stake in the project. According to the project, although the project was estimated to cost around Rs 3.86 billion, the actual cost was more than Rs 5 billion.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15657', 'image' => '20220902043639_Transmission.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 16:36:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15915', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Banks Reducing Credit Flow due to Increase in Risk Weightage', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: After the Nepal Rastra Bank increased the risk weightage to discourage investment in unproductive sector, banks have started reducing credit flow in those areas.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 2: After the Nepal Rastra Bank increased the risk weightage to discourage investment in unproductive sector, banks have started reducing credit flow in those areas.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The increase in risk weightage has put pressure on the capital adequacy ratio of banks resulting in a decline in credit flow to the unproductive sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the half-yearly review of the monetary policy of the last fiscal year, the NRB announced that it will review the risk weightage of loans on import as well as trust receipts, personal overdrafts, real estate loan, personal higher purchases and margin loans. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In line with the decision, the central bank announced in February that the risk weightage of personal overdraft and vehicle purchase loans, as well as real estate and share mortgage loans has been increased to 150 per cent, and the risk weight of Trust Receipt (TR) has been increased to 120 per cent. This new risk weightage has been implemented since mid-June.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Issuing a circular on August 3, the central bank has made arrangement for issuing 30 percent loan against collateral of land in case of Kathmandu valley and 40 percent outside the valley.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This provision will be applicable for renewing overdrafts or providing mortgage loans, property loans, personal periodic loans, and share loans.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the new policy of the NRB, personal overdrafts, purchases of vehicles, share mortgages, and imports have started to decrease.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the central bank, there has been a huge decline in the Trust Receipt loans, which are mostly used for imports. This loan, which increased by 48.7 per cent in the last fiscal year, decreased by 61.9 per cent recently. In addition to increasing the risk weightage, the NRB imposed a provision of cash margin on the import of some goods and the government also banned the import of luxury goods. Similarly, the NRB has cut the gold import quota by half. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15656', 'image' => '20220902042350_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 16:23:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15914', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '476 Local Units Fully Electrified', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: Government's plan of providing electricity facility to every household of Nepal is in the phase of completion.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 2: Government's plan of providing electricity facility to every household of Nepal is in the phase of completion. The remaining houses of Nepali citizens would have access to clean energy within two years if the activities are forwarded as per the government's plan. Out of 753 local levels, 476 local levels have been fully electrified. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, 242 local levels have been partly electrified. The government and Nepal Electricity Authority have been involved in a plan to provide full services to the partly electrified local-levels. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, 35 local levels have not yet received any electricity service. The NEA has been taking initiatives in a planned manner keeping these local levels in mind. Specially, some local levels of Karnali yet to benefit from electricity service. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NEA has already announced tender by making arrangement of budget worth Rs 28 billion to electrify these areas. The NEA has made preparation to provide access to electricity in all the local levels within the next two years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the Electrification Statistics-2079 prepared by the NEA by carrying out detailed study of all local levels, out of the total population of Nepal, 92.51 per cent population have access to electricity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Madhes province has the highest electrification rate of 99.95 per cent and the lowest is in Karnali province which is 56.79 per cent. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Province 1 has 91.23 per cent electrification, 97.47 per cent in Bagmati, 97.76 per cent in Gandaki, 96.73 per cent in Lumbini and 78.85 per cent in Sudurpaschim provinces. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">So far, 42 districts, out of 77, are fully electrified. They are Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Dhankuta, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Kavrepalanchowk, Sindhupalchowk, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dhading, Chitwan, Tanahu, Lamjung, Kaski, Syangja, Palpa, Parbat, Mustang, Baglung, Gulmi, Pyuthan, Nawalparasai ( Bardghat-Susta East), Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Arghakhanchi, Kapilvastu, Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, 14 districts : Ilam, Panchthar, Tehrathum, Sankhuwasabha, Khotang, Udaypur, Sindhuli, Makwanpur, Gorkha, Palpa, Myagdi, Rukum West, Doti and Dadeldhura have witnessed 75-95 percent of electrification while 10 districts : Taplejung, Bhojpur, Okhaldhunga, Manang, Rolpa, Salyan, Surkhet, Dailekh, Achham and Darchula have reported 50-75 percent electrification. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Seven districts: Rukum East, Jumla, Kalikot, Mugu, Humla, Bajhang and Baitadi are those district where 25-50 percent electrification has been carried out so far while four districts: Solukhumbu, Dolpa, Jajarkot and Bajura has just 25 percent electrification. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dolpa, Mugu and Humla still have no access to national grid and the government has the programme of implementing the electrification project: solar and micro hydropower through the Alternative Energy Promotion Center. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NEA managing director Kulman Ghishing said works are in progress in a planned way in line with the government's announcement to ensure reliable and quality electricity service to the entire Nepali people by 2024. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the fiscal year 2072-73 BS, only 62.16 percent households in Nepal were electrified and now this figure has increased to 92. 51 percent. Four provinces, out of seven, are almost completely electrified. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The electrification in Karnali Province has been slightly delayed due to its geographical challenges and remoteness. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NEA is implementing the electrification projects in hill districts of Lumbini, Karnali and Sudur Paschim Province with around Rs 28 billion soft loan from the Asian Infrastructure Bank and the European Investment Bank. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15655', 'image' => '20220902101559_elec.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 10:15:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15913', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '167 Climbers Granted Permission to Scale Mountain Peaks in Autumn Season', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: The Department of Tourism has granted permission to the citizens of 34 countries to climb mountain peaks during the autumn season.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">September 2: The Department of Tourism has granted permission to the citizens of 34 countries to climb mountain peaks during the autumn season. According to the department, a total of 167 climbers have been granted permission to climb six different peaks including Mount Everest as of August 31.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The climbers have been issued permits to scale Mt Everest, Dhaulagiri, Himlung, Manaslu, Nuptse and Saribung, informed the department.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government has collected royalties worth Rs 21.3 million so far from issuing climbing permits this season. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Altogether 19 expedition teams have acquired permits so far. Most of the climbers will be scaling Mt Manaslu this season. A total of 114 climbers from 14 expedition teams have been issued permits to climb Manaslu. Among them, 117 are male and 31 are female climbers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, only five climbers including a woman have taken permission to climb Mt Everest in the autumn season. Mostly, climbers in large number scale the world’s highest peak during the spring season.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Most of the climbers who took permission to climb the mountains are from the USA. A total of 33 climbers from the USA have taken permission to climb the peaks this season. Argentina ranks second with 16 climbers being issued climbing permits followed by Spain (12), China (11), India (11) and the UAE (10). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Similarly, climbers from Bangladesh, France, Japan, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Morocco, Poland, Canada and Australia have also been granted climbing permits. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The number of tourists visiting Nepal has increased in recent days.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15654', 'image' => '20220902100717_maxresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 10:06:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 60 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
Notice (8): Undefined variable: file [APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133]Code Context// $file = 'http://aabhiyan:QUVLg8Wzs2F7G9N7@nepalstock.com.np/api/subindexdata.xml';if(!$xml = simplexml_load_file($file)){$viewFile = '/var/www/html/newbusinessage.com/app/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp' $dataForView = array( 'articles' => array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( [maximum depth reached] ) ) ), 'current_user' => null, 'logged_in' => false ) $articles = array( (int) 0 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15927', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Real Estate Business to Require License', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 5: The government has initiated the process to amend laws in order to allow real estate business only after acquiring license.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">September 5: The government has initiated the process to amend laws in order to allow real estate business only after acquiring license.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Govinda Bandi has registered a bill in the House of Representatives to amend the Land Revenue Act 2034 in this regard.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The bill proposes adding a new provision in the Act. According to the ministry, the bill has included a provision that requires license for any individual or institution to get involved in real estate business. Such a provision has been include in Section 7(A) of the Land Revenue Act 2034. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Furthermore, anyone found involved in real estate business without acquiring license will be fined Rs 1 million. The new arrangement will be applicable only after the bill is endorsed by the parliament and then authenticated by the president.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">So far, individuals and institutions are involved in real estate business without any license. The government had earlier announced in the budget for the current fiscal year that any individual or institution will be allowed to get involved in real estate business in metropolitan cities and sub metropolis only after acquiring license. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government has made attempt to regulate the real estate business after a long debate. The National Risk Evaluation Report prepared by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers two years ago states that the real estate sector falls under the risk of money laundering.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Any individual or institution interested to acquire license for real estate business needs to submit the details and documents along with the prescribed fees to the concerned official once this new provision is published in the Nepal Gazette.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government is likely to authorize an official of the federal government or the provincial government to issue license for the real estate business. Anyone fulfilling the required criteria can acquire the license. The bill has proposed the validity of such license for a period of five years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Earlier, the government was planning to form a separate authority to regulate the real estate sector but the bill is not clear which unit of the government will issue the license and regulate the real estate business. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-05', 'modified' => '2022-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15668', 'image' => '20220905105350_Real estate.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-05 10:53:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15926', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Sunrise Bank Bags Excellence in Product Innovation Award', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: Sunrise Bank has been awarded with the “Excellence in Product Innovation 2022 Award” by Visa International. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 4: Sunrise Bank has been awarded with the “Excellence in Product Innovation 2022 Award” by Visa International. The award was handed over to Robin Kumar Nepal, deputy general manager of the bank, in the presence of Deputy Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, Neelam Dungana Timsina, during an event held in Kathmandu on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bank managed to bag the award for providing latest services to the cooperative members by including them in the Visa network and connecting them to the digital payment system. The bank also provided the facility of paying electricity bills by making a missed call for the first time in Nepal. Furthermore, the bank has been providing various banking services with up-to-date technology through 139 branches, 95 branchless banking services, 13 extension counters and 159 ATMs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15667', 'image' => '20220904041349_Visa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 16:13:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15925', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Farmers' Attraction to Jute Farming Waning ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: The farmers in the Tarai-Madhes region are gradually losing interest in cultivation of jute, which was once the major cash crop of the region.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 4: The farmers in the Tarai-Madhes region are gradually losing interest in cultivation of jute, which was once the major cash crop of the region. Especially, jute cultivation was widely done in Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa districts of the eastern Tarai. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, it is found that jute farming no longer is the attraction of farmers in recent years due to the low returns on investment, the lack of availability of new jute processing technology and the labour shortage. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jute cultivation is gradually declining owing to the cumbersome processing and labour shortage. Another factor that is behind the decline in jute cultivation is the lack of irrigation facility. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jute farming has reduced by more than half in Paschim Kushaha, Laukahi, Shreepur and Haripur and Narasingh Bhokraha areas in southern part of Sunsari district. These areas were the main jute farming areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, jute cultivation in Kaptangunj, Madhya Harshahi, Ramgunj Sinuwari, Sahengunj and Babiya, Jalpapur areas has also reduced more than half these days, said Birendra Yadav, a local farmer. He said they would cultivate jute if the local government provided the farmers with subsidies. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Until some years ago, farmers in Sunsari used to make a decent income from jute farming. But these days they cultivate jute only for using it as firewood. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the FY, 2018/19, jute cultivation in Province 1 spread across 7,285 hectares of lands, producing 12,959 metric tonnes of raw jute. Similarly, jute cultivation spanned over 7,555 hectares in the FY, 2019/20, producing 10,165 metric tonnes. In the FY, 2020/21, the cultivation spread across 7,415 hectares. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jute cultivation had been on the decline since some years, according to Tirtha Raj Rijal, chief of the Jute Research Center, Itahari. Technical difficulties in jute cultivation is blamed for its decline, he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lately, jute industries in the country have shut down due to various reasons. In view of a decline in its production, the government at all three levels should bring various programmes to encourage farmers, he stressed. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15666', 'image' => '20220904040338_20220711053930_jute-sacks-500x500.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 16:02:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15924', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Economy Returning Back on Track: Finance Minister', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said that the economy is gradually returning back to normalcy.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 4: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said that the economy is gradually returning back to normalcy. Finance Minister Sharma made such remark at the opening session of the 24th Annual General Meeting of the Society of Economic Journalists of Nepal (SEJON).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He said that the economy has started to improve because the policies adopted by the government on time. Finance Minister Sharma said that the remittance inflow has increased as the festive season approaches and the country's economy is getting stronger as a result. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He believes that the increase in remittance inflow will relieve the pressure on foreign exchange reserves and it will make the economy stronger. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sharma said that the government will pay attention to the budget expenditure to prevent liquidity crisis and informed that all the ministries have been instructed to make the budget expenditure effective in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Minister Sharma also urged the private sector to increase investment in the productive sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission Dr Bishwanath Paudel said that due to the right decisions and policies of the government and Nepal Rastra Bank, the economy has moved in the right direction. He said that the practice of taking bribes while granting licenses in Nepal has increased and such trend should come to an end. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“There are various kinds of rumors while giving license in Nepal. There are syndicates in every sector. Many types of monopolies have flourished, so the license rule must end,” said Paudel.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Paudel added that the habit of saving money has gradually started to develop in Nepal and that will also help to take the economy to the path of prosperity. According to him, the tendency to save money is increasing. He argued that the foreign exchange reserves will increase due to the increase in remittance inflow, and the economy will become stronger. In the next five years, the construction of some road projects will be completed and it will further improve the economy, said Paudel. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He suggested increasing investment in the manufacturing and service sectors to boost the economy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, Chandra Prasad Dhakal, senior vice president of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries, pointed out that Nepal's economy is moving in the positive direction. He added that the central bank needs to be cautious, saying that Nepal should not follow the footsteps of Sri Lanka, as it is being rumored in the market. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15665', 'image' => '20220904035348_fin min sharma.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 15:53:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15923', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Objectives of PMEP Remains Unfulfilled', 'sub_title' => 'Rs 17 Billion Spent Under PM Employment Programme in 4 Years ', 'summary' => 'September 4: The goal of the Prime Minister's Employment Programme launched by the government in the fiscal year 2018/19 was to increase employment opportunities within the country and promote social security.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 4: The goal of the Prime Minister's Employment Programme launched by the government in the fiscal year 2018/19 was to increase employment opportunities within the country and promote social security. However, even after four years since the initiation of the programme, the status of employment opportunities in the country remains the same. The fact that the number of people seeking foreign employment has not declined stands as a testimony to this. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to the year when the PM's Employment Programme started, the number of people receiving labor permits for foreign employment increased last year. In the fiscal year 2018/19, 508,528 people received labor permits. According to the data of the Department of Foreign Employment, that number increased to 567,839 during the last year (FY 2021/22).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the years in between, the number of people receiving labor permits decreased. Officials of the department say that the number of people taking labor permits decreased due to lockdown imposed in various countries with the onset of Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the fiscal year 2017/18, before the Prime Minister's Employment Programme started, 612,605 people received work permits.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This programme started by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security has not only failed to achieve its goals, but has also failed to achieve its objectives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The objectives of the programme include providing employment services and assistance necessary to guarantee minimum employment to unemployed people, promoting and expanding domestic employment by developing skilled and competent human resources. However, this programme failed to guarantee minimum employment to the unemployed people.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under the programme, more than 700,000 unemployed people are registered annually, among which, only less than 200,000 people get employment. Under the programme, 752,449 unemployed people were registered in the year 2020/21. During the last fiscal year, that number was 707,708.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the programme has also been unable to arrange training for the workers to acquire skills. Under the programme, it was informed that 200,000 people will be given employment for a minimum of 100 days a year. However, neither 200,000 people get the employment opportunity, nor can the receivers work for 100 days.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under this programme, 172,270 people were employed in the year 2018/19, which decreased to 105,626 in the year 2019/20. In the year 2020/21, the number of people who got employment was 181,091 while 147,456 people got employment during the last fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the last four years, workers have been unable to get work for 100 days a year. According to the data of the PM's Employment Programme, workers got an average of 13 days of work in the year 2018/19. In 2019/20, that number increased to 16 days. In the year 2020/21, workers got an average of 76 days of work, and in the last year, 2021/22, this number increased to 81.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since the objectives of the programme has not been fulfilled, questions are being raised on the rationale behind the programme.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Labor and immigration expert Som Luitel says that the PM's Employment Programme failed to achieve its objectives. “This programme was introduced to create jobs for the youth seeking foreign employment. Based on this, the programme has failed,” said Luitel.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He says that this programme is not suitable in terms of the days of employment and wages that the workers will get. Under the programme, workers are given a daily wage of Rs 570.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Luitel says that the PM's Employment Programme has turned into a political recruiting center and a show-off at the end of the fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Because of this, the programme has not been effective.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Secretary of the ministry Ek Narayan Aryal also admits that there are problems in the implementation of the programme.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that there were problems in the implementing the programme due to lack of ownership at the local level. “This programme is a 'mismatch' of the Agricultural Knowledge Center and the Prime Minister's Agricultural Modernization Project. The lowest level where all these programmes are implemented is the local level. But neither the PM's Agricultural Modernization Programme nor the PM's Employment Programme takes ownership,” he said. Aryal added that when he tried to get information about the progress of the programme from Joint Secretary Danduraj Ghimire, who is also the executive director of the PM's Employment Programme, he did not pick up the phone.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15664', 'image' => '20220904022534_PMEP.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 14:24:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15922', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Guidelines on Working Capital Loan Introduced to Control ‘Over Financing’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: Nepal Rastra Bank’s Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari has defended the central bank’s move to amend the Working Capital Loan Guidelines arguing that the new guidelines were introduced to control “over financing.”', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">September 4: Nepal Rastra Bank’s Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari has defended the central bank’s move to amend the Working Capital Loan Guidelines arguing that the new guidelines were introduced to control “over financing.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The NRB Governor made such remark while addressing the 24th annual general assembly of the Society of Economic Journalists Nepal (SEJON). His remark comes at a time when the industrialists have been protesting against the new guidelines on working capital loan.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Adhikari argued that the new provisions were introduced because the businessmen were using loans provided to meet their day-to-day expenses were spent on other purposes. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“There has been over financing in the name of banking capital,” said Adhikari, adding, “We were forced to control the loan after businessmen started using it for other purposes than it was intended for.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Adhikari said that the guidelines were being prepared since he was the deputy governor of NRB and the move has been praised by retired CEOs who spent considerable time in the banking sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He said that the business community did not reveal the entire picture while blaming the NRB move. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The businessmen are not speaking the right thing about the guidelines. They have a tendency to misuse the loan. If they improve in this front, the market will improve,” said Adhikari.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">For instance, Adhikari said if rice dealers are given excessive amount of loan as working capital they will purchase additional stock of rice. In doing so, the stock of rice gets expired and it is later sold after reprocessing, Adhikari said referring to the malpractice seen in this sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On the other hand, businessmen and industrialists say that the new guidelines on working capital loan have discouraged them. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As per the new guidelines, the central bank has capped the limit on working capital loan to 20 in case of a company whose annual transaction is less than Rs 20 million. However, they can avail up to 40 percent loan under special circumstances. In case of a company whose annual transaction is over Rs 20 million, they can avail 25 percent loan. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15663', 'image' => '20220904013755_1662273239.व्यवसायीलाई गभर्नरको जवाफ.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 13:37:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15921', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Trekking in Shey Phoksundo to Highlight Impact of Climate Change ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: A trekking with the participation of leading women figures from different sectors of the country is being held in the Shey Phoksundo area of Dolpa. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 4: A trekking with the participation of leading women figures from different sectors of the country is being held in the Shey Phoksundo area of Dolpa. Sath Sathai Foundation, an NGO active in the fields of climate change, social development and women's empowerment, is organizing the trekking from October 8 to 14 in order to highlight adverse impact of climate change. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the trek, an interaction on Shey Phoksundo Lake conservation, nature-based tourism development and the impact of climate change on local people's lives will be held, said Prajita Karki, the chairperson of the foundation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A special interaction titled 'Women's voices from the mountains, women's solidarity for climate justice and the development of nature-based tourism' will be held in Shey Phoksundo. Around 60 participants including women experts from various fields are going to trek to draw the attention towards the impact of climate change on women's lives and tourism in the high Himalayan region, according to a statement issued by the foundation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Karki said the trek is a journey to understand, discuss and find solutions to the impact of climate change on nature, nature-based tourism and on the lives of locals. Leading women from various sectors of the society as well as officials from various levels of the federal, provincial and local governments, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions, and media persons will participate in the one-week trek. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A Shey Phoksundo manifesto shall also be issued in the presence of representatives from various provinces, MPs, provincial assembly members and local people's representatives. The event will be held in collaboration with the Ministry of Forest and Environment, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Government of Karnali Province, Phoksundo Rural Municipality and various national and international organizations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Despite the insignificant contribution to carbon emissions, we want to tell the world about the problems seen in the nature and social life of Nepal due to climate change. We want to cooperate with the government of Nepal and related agencies," said Chairperson Karki. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, the foundation had organised a 14-day trek on the occasion of International Women's Day to Kalapathar at the base of Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world. Around 40 prominent women leaders from different sectors of the society trekked from to Kalapathar and issued a 10-point special manifesto on climate change. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15662', 'image' => '20220904011304_bibek-raj-shrestha-z2m3t4z88aI-unsplash-1024x685.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 13:12:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15920', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India to Give Access to Mundra and Dhamra Ports to Traders of Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: India has decided to allow Nepal utilize two more sea ports for overseas trade.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 4: India has decided to allow Nepal utilize two more sea ports for overseas trade. So far, Nepal has been using three ports of India for trade with third countries while two additional ports will be allowed for foreign trade from next year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> Indian newspaper The Print recently published a news stating that India is preparing to open access to Dhamra Port in Orissa state and Mundra port in Gujarat for Nepalese traders.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Referring to Indian diplomatic sources, The Print wrote that under India has decided to allow Nepal use these ports for import and export under its Neighbor First Policy and the two countries are in dialogue for the necessary preparations.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to The Print, Nepal will be allowed to use the two additional ports through the revision of the Nepal-India Transit Treaty in 2023. An agreement in-principle was reached in 2018 at the Nepal-India intergovernmental meeting for Nepal to use these ports for trade with third countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal has also submitted a draft regarding the use of these ports to the Indian authorities. This will make Nepal's foreign trade more competitive, says Ashok Kumar Temani, coordinator of the Transport Committee of Madhes chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Trade and Industry. Temani pointed out the need for diplomatic initiatives to widen the range of port selection to reduce the transportation cost in business.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Businessmen of Nepal are currently using India's Kolkata, Haldia and Visakhapatnam ports. Due to the physical limitations of Kolkata and Haldia and the long distance of Visakhapatnam port, Dhamra port can become an alternative. Dhamra is at a distance of 300 km from Kolkata and 400 km from Visakhapatnam.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Importers opined that both Dhamra and Mundra ports operated by Adani Group, which is working on port and rail infrastructure, will help in reducing the cost of overseas trade in Nepal. Temani says that Mundra port is suitable for shipping from the western border of Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Importers say that Dhamra port is easier for Nepal than other ports for both bulk and container cargo coming from third countries. In the past few years, investment in the infrastructure and operation of container cargo in Dhamra has increased. This port is going to prepare 35 berth stations for container and bulk cargo by 2025.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dhamra Port can be used as an alternative to the poor infrastructure of canal-based Kolkata Port and the long-distance to Visakhapatnam Port, says Ravi Shankar Sainju, former joint secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Madhav Rajpal, vice president of Birgunj Merchants Association, and an importer argues that the problem of lack of trains at Haldia port will be solved after this port comes into use. Dhamra Port is only 150 km away from Haldia.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15661', 'image' => '20220904122922_Dhamra-Port-COVID-19-Coronavirus.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 12:28:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15919', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'More than 300K Tourists Visit Nepal This Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: The number of foreign tourists visiting Nepal has climbed to 326,667 as of August 2022 this year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">September 4: The number of foreign tourists visiting Nepal has climbed to 326,667 as of August 2022 this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the data published by Nepal Tourism Board, a total of 41,304 arrived in Nepal in the month of August. The number of tourists visiting Nepal in the review month is comparatively less than the figures of the last five months. However, tourist arrival during this August is more than that of last August, when only 5,917 tourists had visited Nepal due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In August 2020, only 256 tourists had visited Nepal, according to NTB.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Tourist arrival this year is the highest since the onset of coronavirus pandemic. However, tourism entrepreneurs claim that it will still take three more years to reach the pre-pandemic level provided that there is no more obstructions. They estimate that around 1.2 million tourists will likely visit Nepal annually by 2025 if the current situation prevails. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Tourism entrepreneur Yogendra Shakya says that they were not expecting more than 300000 tourists to visit Nepal so soon. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We were afraid that this year would also be the same as the last few years. However, the arrival of tourists must be considered as a positive sign,” said Shakya.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, the bookings ahead of the tourist season is not satisfactory, says Shakya. He claimed that the tourists visiting Nepal in groups is not much encouraging and online booking by individual tourists is not likely to improve the situation much. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Shakya estimates that between 500,000 to 700,000 tourists will likely visit Nepal looking at the current situation. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Before the coronavirus pandemic, the highest number of tourists visiting Nepal were from China. However, Chinese tourists are yet to arrive in large number this year. The number of tourists visiting Nepal from SAARC nations was the highest in August. A total of 18,852 tourists visited Nepal from SAARC nations including India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in August this year. Among them, 16,147 tourists were from India alone followed by 1751 visitors from Bangladesh.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, a total of 7875 tourists arrived in Nepal from European countries including Germany, France, Belgium, Denmark, Russia, the UK, and Sweden in the review month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Among them, most of the tourists were from UK. According to NTB, altogether 2826 tourists visited Nepal from the UK in August.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Similarly, 4091 tourists arrived in Nepal from other Asian countries besides SAARC nations. Tourists from China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Myanmar and Thailand visited Nepal during the review period. A total of 1289 tourists from China visited Nepal in August. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The number of tourists visiting Nepal from the USA and Canada stood at 4618 while 449 tourists from the Middle East and Turkey also visited Nepal.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15660', 'image' => '20220904111044_Tourist.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 11:10:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15918', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Collaboration between QFX Cinema and Khalti', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: QFX Cinema has collaborated with Khalti digital wallet to facilitate its customers in making digital payment for cinema tickets.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 2: QFX Cinema has collaborated with Khalti digital wallet to facilitate its customers in making digital payment for cinema tickets.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The two organisations signed an agreement to this effect for a period of three years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the agreement, customers of QFX Cinema can now purchase QFX movie tickets within 50 seconds through QFX App/Web as well as Pocket App. The company informed that this facility will also be available to the customers of Khalti. In addition, this feature will be available especially in the digital wallet app.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Previously, QFX movie ticket purchase could be done only by logging in to QFX's website or through QFX's app. Now QFX customers and Khalti users can directly purchase movie tickets through the Khalti app. Also, the company says that one can buy tickets from QFX's app/web and pay with Khalti. The agreement has been implemented since August 17.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15659', 'image' => '20220902044724_1661986826.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 16:46:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15917', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Ncell Bags Nepal’s Fastest Mobile Network Award', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: Ncell Axiata Limited has bagged the award for being ‘Nepal’s Fastest Mobile Network’. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">September 2: Ncell Axiata Limited has bagged the award for being ‘Nepal’s Fastest Mobile Network’. Ookla, a global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence, handed over the award to Ncell for January-June 2022.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A statement issued by Ncell says that the company achieved a speed score of 17.16, with median download speeds of 17.31 Mbps and median upload speeds of 9.26 Mbps, securing the best speed in the market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We are delighted that our continuous efforts to connect Nepal with high-speed mobile broadband have been recognised as the ‘Fastest Mobile Network in Nepal’ by the global leader in speed testing,” statement quoted Andy Chong, CEO of Ncell as saying. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The award is a testimony that we deliver what we commit to our customers. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all stakeholders for their trust and for helping us deliver the fastest mobile data service,” he added.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15658', 'image' => '20220905011314_1662026062.ncell.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 16:41:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15916', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '27 MW of Electricity added to the National Grid', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: Altogether 27 MW of electricity has been added to the national transmission line on Tuesday after the completion of Dordikhola hydropower project in Lamjung. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 2: Altogether 27 MW of electricity has been added to the national transmission line on Tuesday after the completion of Dordikhola hydropower project in Lamjung. The project was developed by the Himalayan Power Partner Limited Company in Dordi rural municipality.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The electricity produced by the project was connected to the national transmission line in the presence of Jiva Lamichhane, chairman of Himalaya Power Partner Limited and former president of Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRN) and Chandra Dhakal, chairman of IME Group which has invested in the project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Lamichhane claimed that the non-resident Nepalis opened NRN Infrastructure and Development Company and invested in the Dordikhola hydropower project when he was the president of NRN.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He expressed happiness for getting an opportunity to work together with successful businessmen in Nepal and that the electricity produced by the investment of non-resident Nepalis has been connected to the national transmission line.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, IME Group Chairman Dhakal expressed his joy that the Dordikhola hydropower project has now been completed.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He urged non-resident Nepalis to invest in hydropower, tourism, and infrastructure in the future.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The project started construction seven years ago with the aim of producing electricity within three years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Munn Shakya, the project head, said the construction was delayed due to India's blockade, water from the Masryangdi river entering the powerhouse and causing damage to the machinery and various other reasons.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The dam site of the project is 212 meters. There is a powerhouse in Benisahar Municipality-11 Ramchok Besi. A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was signed between the Nepal Electricity Authority and the company almost a decade ago.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The non-resident Nepali Association has 35.7 per cent share in the company, IME Group 34.3 per cent and the general public 30 per cent stake in the project. According to the project, although the project was estimated to cost around Rs 3.86 billion, the actual cost was more than Rs 5 billion.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15657', 'image' => '20220902043639_Transmission.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 16:36:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15915', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Banks Reducing Credit Flow due to Increase in Risk Weightage', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: After the Nepal Rastra Bank increased the risk weightage to discourage investment in unproductive sector, banks have started reducing credit flow in those areas.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 2: After the Nepal Rastra Bank increased the risk weightage to discourage investment in unproductive sector, banks have started reducing credit flow in those areas.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The increase in risk weightage has put pressure on the capital adequacy ratio of banks resulting in a decline in credit flow to the unproductive sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the half-yearly review of the monetary policy of the last fiscal year, the NRB announced that it will review the risk weightage of loans on import as well as trust receipts, personal overdrafts, real estate loan, personal higher purchases and margin loans. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In line with the decision, the central bank announced in February that the risk weightage of personal overdraft and vehicle purchase loans, as well as real estate and share mortgage loans has been increased to 150 per cent, and the risk weight of Trust Receipt (TR) has been increased to 120 per cent. This new risk weightage has been implemented since mid-June.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Issuing a circular on August 3, the central bank has made arrangement for issuing 30 percent loan against collateral of land in case of Kathmandu valley and 40 percent outside the valley.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This provision will be applicable for renewing overdrafts or providing mortgage loans, property loans, personal periodic loans, and share loans.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the new policy of the NRB, personal overdrafts, purchases of vehicles, share mortgages, and imports have started to decrease.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the central bank, there has been a huge decline in the Trust Receipt loans, which are mostly used for imports. This loan, which increased by 48.7 per cent in the last fiscal year, decreased by 61.9 per cent recently. In addition to increasing the risk weightage, the NRB imposed a provision of cash margin on the import of some goods and the government also banned the import of luxury goods. Similarly, the NRB has cut the gold import quota by half. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15656', 'image' => '20220902042350_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 16:23:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15914', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '476 Local Units Fully Electrified', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: Government's plan of providing electricity facility to every household of Nepal is in the phase of completion.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 2: Government's plan of providing electricity facility to every household of Nepal is in the phase of completion. The remaining houses of Nepali citizens would have access to clean energy within two years if the activities are forwarded as per the government's plan. Out of 753 local levels, 476 local levels have been fully electrified. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, 242 local levels have been partly electrified. The government and Nepal Electricity Authority have been involved in a plan to provide full services to the partly electrified local-levels. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, 35 local levels have not yet received any electricity service. The NEA has been taking initiatives in a planned manner keeping these local levels in mind. Specially, some local levels of Karnali yet to benefit from electricity service. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NEA has already announced tender by making arrangement of budget worth Rs 28 billion to electrify these areas. The NEA has made preparation to provide access to electricity in all the local levels within the next two years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the Electrification Statistics-2079 prepared by the NEA by carrying out detailed study of all local levels, out of the total population of Nepal, 92.51 per cent population have access to electricity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Madhes province has the highest electrification rate of 99.95 per cent and the lowest is in Karnali province which is 56.79 per cent. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Province 1 has 91.23 per cent electrification, 97.47 per cent in Bagmati, 97.76 per cent in Gandaki, 96.73 per cent in Lumbini and 78.85 per cent in Sudurpaschim provinces. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">So far, 42 districts, out of 77, are fully electrified. They are Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Dhankuta, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Kavrepalanchowk, Sindhupalchowk, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dhading, Chitwan, Tanahu, Lamjung, Kaski, Syangja, Palpa, Parbat, Mustang, Baglung, Gulmi, Pyuthan, Nawalparasai ( Bardghat-Susta East), Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Arghakhanchi, Kapilvastu, Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, 14 districts : Ilam, Panchthar, Tehrathum, Sankhuwasabha, Khotang, Udaypur, Sindhuli, Makwanpur, Gorkha, Palpa, Myagdi, Rukum West, Doti and Dadeldhura have witnessed 75-95 percent of electrification while 10 districts : Taplejung, Bhojpur, Okhaldhunga, Manang, Rolpa, Salyan, Surkhet, Dailekh, Achham and Darchula have reported 50-75 percent electrification. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Seven districts: Rukum East, Jumla, Kalikot, Mugu, Humla, Bajhang and Baitadi are those district where 25-50 percent electrification has been carried out so far while four districts: Solukhumbu, Dolpa, Jajarkot and Bajura has just 25 percent electrification. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dolpa, Mugu and Humla still have no access to national grid and the government has the programme of implementing the electrification project: solar and micro hydropower through the Alternative Energy Promotion Center. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NEA managing director Kulman Ghishing said works are in progress in a planned way in line with the government's announcement to ensure reliable and quality electricity service to the entire Nepali people by 2024. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the fiscal year 2072-73 BS, only 62.16 percent households in Nepal were electrified and now this figure has increased to 92. 51 percent. Four provinces, out of seven, are almost completely electrified. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The electrification in Karnali Province has been slightly delayed due to its geographical challenges and remoteness. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NEA is implementing the electrification projects in hill districts of Lumbini, Karnali and Sudur Paschim Province with around Rs 28 billion soft loan from the Asian Infrastructure Bank and the European Investment Bank. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15655', 'image' => '20220902101559_elec.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 10:15:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15913', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '167 Climbers Granted Permission to Scale Mountain Peaks in Autumn Season', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: The Department of Tourism has granted permission to the citizens of 34 countries to climb mountain peaks during the autumn season.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">September 2: The Department of Tourism has granted permission to the citizens of 34 countries to climb mountain peaks during the autumn season. According to the department, a total of 167 climbers have been granted permission to climb six different peaks including Mount Everest as of August 31.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The climbers have been issued permits to scale Mt Everest, Dhaulagiri, Himlung, Manaslu, Nuptse and Saribung, informed the department.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government has collected royalties worth Rs 21.3 million so far from issuing climbing permits this season. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Altogether 19 expedition teams have acquired permits so far. Most of the climbers will be scaling Mt Manaslu this season. A total of 114 climbers from 14 expedition teams have been issued permits to climb Manaslu. Among them, 117 are male and 31 are female climbers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, only five climbers including a woman have taken permission to climb Mt Everest in the autumn season. Mostly, climbers in large number scale the world’s highest peak during the spring season.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Most of the climbers who took permission to climb the mountains are from the USA. A total of 33 climbers from the USA have taken permission to climb the peaks this season. Argentina ranks second with 16 climbers being issued climbing permits followed by Spain (12), China (11), India (11) and the UAE (10). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Similarly, climbers from Bangladesh, France, Japan, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Morocco, Poland, Canada and Australia have also been granted climbing permits. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The number of tourists visiting Nepal has increased in recent days.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15654', 'image' => '20220902100717_maxresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 10:06:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falseinclude - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
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According to the ministry, the bill has included a provision that requires license for any individual or institution to get involved in real estate business. Such a provision has been include in Section 7(A) of the Land Revenue Act 2034. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Furthermore, anyone found involved in real estate business without acquiring license will be fined Rs 1 million. The new arrangement will be applicable only after the bill is endorsed by the parliament and then authenticated by the president.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">So far, individuals and institutions are involved in real estate business without any license. The government had earlier announced in the budget for the current fiscal year that any individual or institution will be allowed to get involved in real estate business in metropolitan cities and sub metropolis only after acquiring license. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government has made attempt to regulate the real estate business after a long debate. The National Risk Evaluation Report prepared by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers two years ago states that the real estate sector falls under the risk of money laundering.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Any individual or institution interested to acquire license for real estate business needs to submit the details and documents along with the prescribed fees to the concerned official once this new provision is published in the Nepal Gazette.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government is likely to authorize an official of the federal government or the provincial government to issue license for the real estate business. Anyone fulfilling the required criteria can acquire the license. The bill has proposed the validity of such license for a period of five years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Earlier, the government was planning to form a separate authority to regulate the real estate sector but the bill is not clear which unit of the government will issue the license and regulate the real estate business. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-05', 'modified' => '2022-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15668', 'image' => '20220905105350_Real estate.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-05 10:53:10', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 1 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15926', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Sunrise Bank Bags Excellence in Product Innovation Award', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: Sunrise Bank has been awarded with the “Excellence in Product Innovation 2022 Award” by Visa International. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 4: Sunrise Bank has been awarded with the “Excellence in Product Innovation 2022 Award” by Visa International. The award was handed over to Robin Kumar Nepal, deputy general manager of the bank, in the presence of Deputy Governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, Neelam Dungana Timsina, during an event held in Kathmandu on Thursday.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The bank managed to bag the award for providing latest services to the cooperative members by including them in the Visa network and connecting them to the digital payment system. The bank also provided the facility of paying electricity bills by making a missed call for the first time in Nepal. Furthermore, the bank has been providing various banking services with up-to-date technology through 139 branches, 95 branchless banking services, 13 extension counters and 159 ATMs.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15667', 'image' => '20220904041349_Visa.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 16:13:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 2 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15925', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Farmers' Attraction to Jute Farming Waning ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: The farmers in the Tarai-Madhes region are gradually losing interest in cultivation of jute, which was once the major cash crop of the region.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 4: The farmers in the Tarai-Madhes region are gradually losing interest in cultivation of jute, which was once the major cash crop of the region. Especially, jute cultivation was widely done in Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa districts of the eastern Tarai. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">However, it is found that jute farming no longer is the attraction of farmers in recent years due to the low returns on investment, the lack of availability of new jute processing technology and the labour shortage. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jute cultivation is gradually declining owing to the cumbersome processing and labour shortage. Another factor that is behind the decline in jute cultivation is the lack of irrigation facility. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jute farming has reduced by more than half in Paschim Kushaha, Laukahi, Shreepur and Haripur and Narasingh Bhokraha areas in southern part of Sunsari district. These areas were the main jute farming areas. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, jute cultivation in Kaptangunj, Madhya Harshahi, Ramgunj Sinuwari, Sahengunj and Babiya, Jalpapur areas has also reduced more than half these days, said Birendra Yadav, a local farmer. He said they would cultivate jute if the local government provided the farmers with subsidies. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Until some years ago, farmers in Sunsari used to make a decent income from jute farming. But these days they cultivate jute only for using it as firewood. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the FY, 2018/19, jute cultivation in Province 1 spread across 7,285 hectares of lands, producing 12,959 metric tonnes of raw jute. Similarly, jute cultivation spanned over 7,555 hectares in the FY, 2019/20, producing 10,165 metric tonnes. In the FY, 2020/21, the cultivation spread across 7,415 hectares. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Jute cultivation had been on the decline since some years, according to Tirtha Raj Rijal, chief of the Jute Research Center, Itahari. Technical difficulties in jute cultivation is blamed for its decline, he said. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Lately, jute industries in the country have shut down due to various reasons. In view of a decline in its production, the government at all three levels should bring various programmes to encourage farmers, he stressed. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15666', 'image' => '20220904040338_20220711053930_jute-sacks-500x500.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 16:02:58', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 3 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15924', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Economy Returning Back on Track: Finance Minister', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said that the economy is gradually returning back to normalcy.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">September 4: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma said that the economy is gradually returning back to normalcy. Finance Minister Sharma made such remark at the opening session of the 24th Annual General Meeting of the Society of Economic Journalists of Nepal (SEJON).</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He said that the economy has started to improve because the policies adopted by the government on time. Finance Minister Sharma said that the remittance inflow has increased as the festive season approaches and the country's economy is getting stronger as a result. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He believes that the increase in remittance inflow will relieve the pressure on foreign exchange reserves and it will make the economy stronger. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Sharma said that the government will pay attention to the budget expenditure to prevent liquidity crisis and informed that all the ministries have been instructed to make the budget expenditure effective in the current fiscal year.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Minister Sharma also urged the private sector to increase investment in the productive sector.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of National Planning Commission Dr Bishwanath Paudel said that due to the right decisions and policies of the government and Nepal Rastra Bank, the economy has moved in the right direction. He said that the practice of taking bribes while granting licenses in Nepal has increased and such trend should come to an end. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">“There are various kinds of rumors while giving license in Nepal. There are syndicates in every sector. Many types of monopolies have flourished, so the license rule must end,” said Paudel.</span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Paudel added that the habit of saving money has gradually started to develop in Nepal and that will also help to take the economy to the path of prosperity. According to him, the tendency to save money is increasing. He argued that the foreign exchange reserves will increase due to the increase in remittance inflow, and the economy will become stronger. In the next five years, the construction of some road projects will be completed and it will further improve the economy, said Paudel. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">He suggested increasing investment in the manufacturing and service sectors to boost the economy. </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Similarly, Chandra Prasad Dhakal, senior vice president of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries, pointed out that Nepal's economy is moving in the positive direction. He added that the central bank needs to be cautious, saying that Nepal should not follow the footsteps of Sri Lanka, as it is being rumored in the market. </span></span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15665', 'image' => '20220904035348_fin min sharma.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 15:53:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 4 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15923', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Objectives of PMEP Remains Unfulfilled', 'sub_title' => 'Rs 17 Billion Spent Under PM Employment Programme in 4 Years ', 'summary' => 'September 4: The goal of the Prime Minister's Employment Programme launched by the government in the fiscal year 2018/19 was to increase employment opportunities within the country and promote social security.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 4: The goal of the Prime Minister's Employment Programme launched by the government in the fiscal year 2018/19 was to increase employment opportunities within the country and promote social security. However, even after four years since the initiation of the programme, the status of employment opportunities in the country remains the same. The fact that the number of people seeking foreign employment has not declined stands as a testimony to this. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Compared to the year when the PM's Employment Programme started, the number of people receiving labor permits for foreign employment increased last year. In the fiscal year 2018/19, 508,528 people received labor permits. According to the data of the Department of Foreign Employment, that number increased to 567,839 during the last year (FY 2021/22).</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">During the years in between, the number of people receiving labor permits decreased. Officials of the department say that the number of people taking labor permits decreased due to lockdown imposed in various countries with the onset of Covid-19 pandemic.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the fiscal year 2017/18, before the Prime Minister's Employment Programme started, 612,605 people received work permits.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This programme started by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security has not only failed to achieve its goals, but has also failed to achieve its objectives.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The objectives of the programme include providing employment services and assistance necessary to guarantee minimum employment to unemployed people, promoting and expanding domestic employment by developing skilled and competent human resources. However, this programme failed to guarantee minimum employment to the unemployed people.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under the programme, more than 700,000 unemployed people are registered annually, among which, only less than 200,000 people get employment. Under the programme, 752,449 unemployed people were registered in the year 2020/21. During the last fiscal year, that number was 707,708.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, the programme has also been unable to arrange training for the workers to acquire skills. Under the programme, it was informed that 200,000 people will be given employment for a minimum of 100 days a year. However, neither 200,000 people get the employment opportunity, nor can the receivers work for 100 days.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Under this programme, 172,270 people were employed in the year 2018/19, which decreased to 105,626 in the year 2019/20. In the year 2020/21, the number of people who got employment was 181,091 while 147,456 people got employment during the last fiscal year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the last four years, workers have been unable to get work for 100 days a year. According to the data of the PM's Employment Programme, workers got an average of 13 days of work in the year 2018/19. In 2019/20, that number increased to 16 days. In the year 2020/21, workers got an average of 76 days of work, and in the last year, 2021/22, this number increased to 81.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Since the objectives of the programme has not been fulfilled, questions are being raised on the rationale behind the programme.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Labor and immigration expert Som Luitel says that the PM's Employment Programme failed to achieve its objectives. “This programme was introduced to create jobs for the youth seeking foreign employment. Based on this, the programme has failed,” said Luitel.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He says that this programme is not suitable in terms of the days of employment and wages that the workers will get. Under the programme, workers are given a daily wage of Rs 570.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Luitel says that the PM's Employment Programme has turned into a political recruiting center and a show-off at the end of the fiscal year. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">“Because of this, the programme has not been effective.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Secretary of the ministry Ek Narayan Aryal also admits that there are problems in the implementation of the programme.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He said that there were problems in the implementing the programme due to lack of ownership at the local level. “This programme is a 'mismatch' of the Agricultural Knowledge Center and the Prime Minister's Agricultural Modernization Project. The lowest level where all these programmes are implemented is the local level. But neither the PM's Agricultural Modernization Programme nor the PM's Employment Programme takes ownership,” he said. Aryal added that when he tried to get information about the progress of the programme from Joint Secretary Danduraj Ghimire, who is also the executive director of the PM's Employment Programme, he did not pick up the phone.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15664', 'image' => '20220904022534_PMEP.jpeg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 14:24:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 5 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15922', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'New Guidelines on Working Capital Loan Introduced to Control ‘Over Financing’', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: Nepal Rastra Bank’s Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari has defended the central bank’s move to amend the Working Capital Loan Guidelines arguing that the new guidelines were introduced to control “over financing.”', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">September 4: Nepal Rastra Bank’s Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari has defended the central bank’s move to amend the Working Capital Loan Guidelines arguing that the new guidelines were introduced to control “over financing.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The NRB Governor made such remark while addressing the 24th annual general assembly of the Society of Economic Journalists Nepal (SEJON). His remark comes at a time when the industrialists have been protesting against the new guidelines on working capital loan.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Adhikari argued that the new provisions were introduced because the businessmen were using loans provided to meet their day-to-day expenses were spent on other purposes. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“There has been over financing in the name of banking capital,” said Adhikari, adding, “We were forced to control the loan after businessmen started using it for other purposes than it was intended for.”</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Adhikari said that the guidelines were being prepared since he was the deputy governor of NRB and the move has been praised by retired CEOs who spent considerable time in the banking sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">He said that the business community did not reveal the entire picture while blaming the NRB move. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The businessmen are not speaking the right thing about the guidelines. They have a tendency to misuse the loan. If they improve in this front, the market will improve,” said Adhikari.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">For instance, Adhikari said if rice dealers are given excessive amount of loan as working capital they will purchase additional stock of rice. In doing so, the stock of rice gets expired and it is later sold after reprocessing, Adhikari said referring to the malpractice seen in this sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">On the other hand, businessmen and industrialists say that the new guidelines on working capital loan have discouraged them. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">As per the new guidelines, the central bank has capped the limit on working capital loan to 20 in case of a company whose annual transaction is less than Rs 20 million. However, they can avail up to 40 percent loan under special circumstances. In case of a company whose annual transaction is over Rs 20 million, they can avail 25 percent loan. </span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15663', 'image' => '20220904013755_1662273239.व्यवसायीलाई गभर्नरको जवाफ.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 13:37:13', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 6 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15921', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Trekking in Shey Phoksundo to Highlight Impact of Climate Change ', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: A trekking with the participation of leading women figures from different sectors of the country is being held in the Shey Phoksundo area of Dolpa. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 4: A trekking with the participation of leading women figures from different sectors of the country is being held in the Shey Phoksundo area of Dolpa. Sath Sathai Foundation, an NGO active in the fields of climate change, social development and women's empowerment, is organizing the trekking from October 8 to 14 in order to highlight adverse impact of climate change. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Following the trek, an interaction on Shey Phoksundo Lake conservation, nature-based tourism development and the impact of climate change on local people's lives will be held, said Prajita Karki, the chairperson of the foundation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A special interaction titled 'Women's voices from the mountains, women's solidarity for climate justice and the development of nature-based tourism' will be held in Shey Phoksundo. Around 60 participants including women experts from various fields are going to trek to draw the attention towards the impact of climate change on women's lives and tourism in the high Himalayan region, according to a statement issued by the foundation. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Karki said the trek is a journey to understand, discuss and find solutions to the impact of climate change on nature, nature-based tourism and on the lives of locals. Leading women from various sectors of the society as well as officials from various levels of the federal, provincial and local governments, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions, and media persons will participate in the one-week trek. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">A Shey Phoksundo manifesto shall also be issued in the presence of representatives from various provinces, MPs, provincial assembly members and local people's representatives. The event will be held in collaboration with the Ministry of Forest and Environment, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Government of Karnali Province, Phoksundo Rural Municipality and various national and international organizations. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">"Despite the insignificant contribution to carbon emissions, we want to tell the world about the problems seen in the nature and social life of Nepal due to climate change. We want to cooperate with the government of Nepal and related agencies," said Chairperson Karki. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Earlier, the foundation had organised a 14-day trek on the occasion of International Women's Day to Kalapathar at the base of Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world. Around 40 prominent women leaders from different sectors of the society trekked from to Kalapathar and issued a 10-point special manifesto on climate change. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15662', 'image' => '20220904011304_bibek-raj-shrestha-z2m3t4z88aI-unsplash-1024x685.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 13:12:28', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 7 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15920', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'India to Give Access to Mundra and Dhamra Ports to Traders of Nepal', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: India has decided to allow Nepal utilize two more sea ports for overseas trade.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 4: India has decided to allow Nepal utilize two more sea ports for overseas trade. So far, Nepal has been using three ports of India for trade with third countries while two additional ports will be allowed for foreign trade from next year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif""> Indian newspaper The Print recently published a news stating that India is preparing to open access to Dhamra Port in Orissa state and Mundra port in Gujarat for Nepalese traders.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Referring to Indian diplomatic sources, The Print wrote that under India has decided to allow Nepal use these ports for import and export under its Neighbor First Policy and the two countries are in dialogue for the necessary preparations.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to The Print, Nepal will be allowed to use the two additional ports through the revision of the Nepal-India Transit Treaty in 2023. An agreement in-principle was reached in 2018 at the Nepal-India intergovernmental meeting for Nepal to use these ports for trade with third countries.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Nepal has also submitted a draft regarding the use of these ports to the Indian authorities. This will make Nepal's foreign trade more competitive, says Ashok Kumar Temani, coordinator of the Transport Committee of Madhes chapter of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Trade and Industry. Temani pointed out the need for diplomatic initiatives to widen the range of port selection to reduce the transportation cost in business.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Businessmen of Nepal are currently using India's Kolkata, Haldia and Visakhapatnam ports. Due to the physical limitations of Kolkata and Haldia and the long distance of Visakhapatnam port, Dhamra port can become an alternative. Dhamra is at a distance of 300 km from Kolkata and 400 km from Visakhapatnam.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Importers opined that both Dhamra and Mundra ports operated by Adani Group, which is working on port and rail infrastructure, will help in reducing the cost of overseas trade in Nepal. Temani says that Mundra port is suitable for shipping from the western border of Nepal.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Importers say that Dhamra port is easier for Nepal than other ports for both bulk and container cargo coming from third countries. In the past few years, investment in the infrastructure and operation of container cargo in Dhamra has increased. This port is going to prepare 35 berth stations for container and bulk cargo by 2025.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Dhamra Port can be used as an alternative to the poor infrastructure of canal-based Kolkata Port and the long-distance to Visakhapatnam Port, says Ravi Shankar Sainju, former joint secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Madhav Rajpal, vice president of Birgunj Merchants Association, and an importer argues that the problem of lack of trains at Haldia port will be solved after this port comes into use. Dhamra Port is only 150 km away from Haldia.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15661', 'image' => '20220904122922_Dhamra-Port-COVID-19-Coronavirus.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 12:28:43', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 8 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15919', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'More than 300K Tourists Visit Nepal This Year', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 4: The number of foreign tourists visiting Nepal has climbed to 326,667 as of August 2022 this year.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">September 4: The number of foreign tourists visiting Nepal has climbed to 326,667 as of August 2022 this year.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">According to the data published by Nepal Tourism Board, a total of 41,304 arrived in Nepal in the month of August. The number of tourists visiting Nepal in the review month is comparatively less than the figures of the last five months. However, tourist arrival during this August is more than that of last August, when only 5,917 tourists had visited Nepal due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In August 2020, only 256 tourists had visited Nepal, according to NTB.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Tourist arrival this year is the highest since the onset of coronavirus pandemic. However, tourism entrepreneurs claim that it will still take three more years to reach the pre-pandemic level provided that there is no more obstructions. They estimate that around 1.2 million tourists will likely visit Nepal annually by 2025 if the current situation prevails. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Tourism entrepreneur Yogendra Shakya says that they were not expecting more than 300000 tourists to visit Nepal so soon. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We were afraid that this year would also be the same as the last few years. However, the arrival of tourists must be considered as a positive sign,” said Shakya.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">However, the bookings ahead of the tourist season is not satisfactory, says Shakya. He claimed that the tourists visiting Nepal in groups is not much encouraging and online booking by individual tourists is not likely to improve the situation much. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Shakya estimates that between 500,000 to 700,000 tourists will likely visit Nepal looking at the current situation. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Before the coronavirus pandemic, the highest number of tourists visiting Nepal were from China. However, Chinese tourists are yet to arrive in large number this year. The number of tourists visiting Nepal from SAARC nations was the highest in August. A total of 18,852 tourists visited Nepal from SAARC nations including India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in August this year. Among them, 16,147 tourists were from India alone followed by 1751 visitors from Bangladesh.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, a total of 7875 tourists arrived in Nepal from European countries including Germany, France, Belgium, Denmark, Russia, the UK, and Sweden in the review month.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Among them, most of the tourists were from UK. According to NTB, altogether 2826 tourists visited Nepal from the UK in August.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Similarly, 4091 tourists arrived in Nepal from other Asian countries besides SAARC nations. Tourists from China, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Myanmar and Thailand visited Nepal during the review period. A total of 1289 tourists from China visited Nepal in August. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The number of tourists visiting Nepal from the USA and Canada stood at 4618 while 449 tourists from the Middle East and Turkey also visited Nepal.</span></span></p> <p> </p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-04', 'modified' => '2022-09-04', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15660', 'image' => '20220904111044_Tourist.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-04 11:10:03', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 9 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15918', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Collaboration between QFX Cinema and Khalti', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: QFX Cinema has collaborated with Khalti digital wallet to facilitate its customers in making digital payment for cinema tickets.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 2: QFX Cinema has collaborated with Khalti digital wallet to facilitate its customers in making digital payment for cinema tickets.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The two organisations signed an agreement to this effect for a period of three years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">As per the agreement, customers of QFX Cinema can now purchase QFX movie tickets within 50 seconds through QFX App/Web as well as Pocket App. The company informed that this facility will also be available to the customers of Khalti. In addition, this feature will be available especially in the digital wallet app.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Previously, QFX movie ticket purchase could be done only by logging in to QFX's website or through QFX's app. Now QFX customers and Khalti users can directly purchase movie tickets through the Khalti app. Also, the company says that one can buy tickets from QFX's app/web and pay with Khalti. The agreement has been implemented since August 17.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15659', 'image' => '20220902044724_1661986826.Clipboard09.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 16:46:47', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 10 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15917', 'article_category_id' => '266', 'title' => 'Ncell Bags Nepal’s Fastest Mobile Network Award', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: Ncell Axiata Limited has bagged the award for being ‘Nepal’s Fastest Mobile Network’. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">September 2: Ncell Axiata Limited has bagged the award for being ‘Nepal’s Fastest Mobile Network’. Ookla, a global leader in mobile and broadband network intelligence, handed over the award to Ncell for January-June 2022.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">A statement issued by Ncell says that the company achieved a speed score of 17.16, with median download speeds of 17.31 Mbps and median upload speeds of 9.26 Mbps, securing the best speed in the market. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“We are delighted that our continuous efforts to connect Nepal with high-speed mobile broadband have been recognised as the ‘Fastest Mobile Network in Nepal’ by the global leader in speed testing,” statement quoted Andy Chong, CEO of Ncell as saying. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">“The award is a testimony that we deliver what we commit to our customers. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all stakeholders for their trust and for helping us deliver the fastest mobile data service,” he added.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-05', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15658', 'image' => '20220905011314_1662026062.ncell.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 16:41:31', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => false, 'in_scroller' => false, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 11 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15916', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '27 MW of Electricity added to the National Grid', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: Altogether 27 MW of electricity has been added to the national transmission line on Tuesday after the completion of Dordikhola hydropower project in Lamjung. ', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 2: Altogether 27 MW of electricity has been added to the national transmission line on Tuesday after the completion of Dordikhola hydropower project in Lamjung. The project was developed by the Himalayan Power Partner Limited Company in Dordi rural municipality.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The electricity produced by the project was connected to the national transmission line in the presence of Jiva Lamichhane, chairman of Himalaya Power Partner Limited and former president of Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRN) and Chandra Dhakal, chairman of IME Group which has invested in the project.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Lamichhane claimed that the non-resident Nepalis opened NRN Infrastructure and Development Company and invested in the Dordikhola hydropower project when he was the president of NRN.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He expressed happiness for getting an opportunity to work together with successful businessmen in Nepal and that the electricity produced by the investment of non-resident Nepalis has been connected to the national transmission line.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Similarly, IME Group Chairman Dhakal expressed his joy that the Dordikhola hydropower project has now been completed.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">He urged non-resident Nepalis to invest in hydropower, tourism, and infrastructure in the future.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The project started construction seven years ago with the aim of producing electricity within three years.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Munn Shakya, the project head, said the construction was delayed due to India's blockade, water from the Masryangdi river entering the powerhouse and causing damage to the machinery and various other reasons.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The dam site of the project is 212 meters. There is a powerhouse in Benisahar Municipality-11 Ramchok Besi. A Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) was signed between the Nepal Electricity Authority and the company almost a decade ago.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The non-resident Nepali Association has 35.7 per cent share in the company, IME Group 34.3 per cent and the general public 30 per cent stake in the project. According to the project, although the project was estimated to cost around Rs 3.86 billion, the actual cost was more than Rs 5 billion.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15657', 'image' => '20220902043639_Transmission.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 16:36:05', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 12 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15915', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => 'Banks Reducing Credit Flow due to Increase in Risk Weightage', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: After the Nepal Rastra Bank increased the risk weightage to discourage investment in unproductive sector, banks have started reducing credit flow in those areas.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">September 2: After the Nepal Rastra Bank increased the risk weightage to discourage investment in unproductive sector, banks have started reducing credit flow in those areas.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The increase in risk weightage has put pressure on the capital adequacy ratio of banks resulting in a decline in credit flow to the unproductive sector.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In the half-yearly review of the monetary policy of the last fiscal year, the NRB announced that it will review the risk weightage of loans on import as well as trust receipts, personal overdrafts, real estate loan, personal higher purchases and margin loans. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">In line with the decision, the central bank announced in February that the risk weightage of personal overdraft and vehicle purchase loans, as well as real estate and share mortgage loans has been increased to 150 per cent, and the risk weight of Trust Receipt (TR) has been increased to 120 per cent. This new risk weightage has been implemented since mid-June.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">Issuing a circular on August 3, the central bank has made arrangement for issuing 30 percent loan against collateral of land in case of Kathmandu valley and 40 percent outside the valley.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">This provision will be applicable for renewing overdrafts or providing mortgage loans, property loans, personal periodic loans, and share loans.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">With the new policy of the NRB, personal overdrafts, purchases of vehicles, share mortgages, and imports have started to decrease.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">According to the data of the central bank, there has been a huge decline in the Trust Receipt loans, which are mostly used for imports. This loan, which increased by 48.7 per cent in the last fiscal year, decreased by 61.9 per cent recently. In addition to increasing the risk weightage, the NRB imposed a provision of cash margin on the import of some goods and the government also banned the import of luxury goods. Similarly, the NRB has cut the gold import quota by half. </span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15656', 'image' => '20220902042350_Banks - Copy.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 16:23:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 13 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15914', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '476 Local Units Fully Electrified', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: Government's plan of providing electricity facility to every household of Nepal is in the phase of completion.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:11pt"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">September 2: Government's plan of providing electricity facility to every household of Nepal is in the phase of completion. The remaining houses of Nepali citizens would have access to clean energy within two years if the activities are forwarded as per the government's plan. Out of 753 local levels, 476 local levels have been fully electrified. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Similarly, 242 local levels have been partly electrified. The government and Nepal Electricity Authority have been involved in a plan to provide full services to the partly electrified local-levels. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, 35 local levels have not yet received any electricity service. The NEA has been taking initiatives in a planned manner keeping these local levels in mind. Specially, some local levels of Karnali yet to benefit from electricity service. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NEA has already announced tender by making arrangement of budget worth Rs 28 billion to electrify these areas. The NEA has made preparation to provide access to electricity in all the local levels within the next two years. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">As per the Electrification Statistics-2079 prepared by the NEA by carrying out detailed study of all local levels, out of the total population of Nepal, 92.51 per cent population have access to electricity. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Madhes province has the highest electrification rate of 99.95 per cent and the lowest is in Karnali province which is 56.79 per cent. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Province 1 has 91.23 per cent electrification, 97.47 per cent in Bagmati, 97.76 per cent in Gandaki, 96.73 per cent in Lumbini and 78.85 per cent in Sudurpaschim provinces. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">So far, 42 districts, out of 77, are fully electrified. They are Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Dhankuta, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, Ramechhap, Dolakha, Kavrepalanchowk, Sindhupalchowk, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Nuwakot, Rasuwa, Dhading, Chitwan, Tanahu, Lamjung, Kaski, Syangja, Palpa, Parbat, Mustang, Baglung, Gulmi, Pyuthan, Nawalparasai ( Bardghat-Susta East), Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Arghakhanchi, Kapilvastu, Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Likewise, 14 districts : Ilam, Panchthar, Tehrathum, Sankhuwasabha, Khotang, Udaypur, Sindhuli, Makwanpur, Gorkha, Palpa, Myagdi, Rukum West, Doti and Dadeldhura have witnessed 75-95 percent of electrification while 10 districts : Taplejung, Bhojpur, Okhaldhunga, Manang, Rolpa, Salyan, Surkhet, Dailekh, Achham and Darchula have reported 50-75 percent electrification. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Seven districts: Rukum East, Jumla, Kalikot, Mugu, Humla, Bajhang and Baitadi are those district where 25-50 percent electrification has been carried out so far while four districts: Solukhumbu, Dolpa, Jajarkot and Bajura has just 25 percent electrification. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">Dolpa, Mugu and Humla still have no access to national grid and the government has the programme of implementing the electrification project: solar and micro hydropower through the Alternative Energy Promotion Center. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">NEA managing director Kulman Ghishing said works are in progress in a planned way in line with the government's announcement to ensure reliable and quality electricity service to the entire Nepali people by 2024. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">In the fiscal year 2072-73 BS, only 62.16 percent households in Nepal were electrified and now this figure has increased to 92. 51 percent. Four provinces, out of seven, are almost completely electrified. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The electrification in Karnali Province has been slightly delayed due to its geographical challenges and remoteness. </span><br /> <span style="font-family:"Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"">The NEA is implementing the electrification projects in hill districts of Lumbini, Karnali and Sudur Paschim Province with around Rs 28 billion soft loan from the Asian Infrastructure Bank and the European Investment Bank. -- RSS </span></span></span></p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15655', 'image' => '20220902101559_elec.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 10:15:09', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ), (int) 14 => array( 'Article' => array( 'id' => '15913', 'article_category_id' => '1', 'title' => '167 Climbers Granted Permission to Scale Mountain Peaks in Autumn Season', 'sub_title' => '', 'summary' => 'September 2: The Department of Tourism has granted permission to the citizens of 34 countries to climb mountain peaks during the autumn season.', 'content' => '<p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">September 2: The Department of Tourism has granted permission to the citizens of 34 countries to climb mountain peaks during the autumn season. According to the department, a total of 167 climbers have been granted permission to climb six different peaks including Mount Everest as of August 31.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The climbers have been issued permits to scale Mt Everest, Dhaulagiri, Himlung, Manaslu, Nuptse and Saribung, informed the department.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The government has collected royalties worth Rs 21.3 million so far from issuing climbing permits this season. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Altogether 19 expedition teams have acquired permits so far. Most of the climbers will be scaling Mt Manaslu this season. A total of 114 climbers from 14 expedition teams have been issued permits to climb Manaslu. Among them, 117 are male and 31 are female climbers. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Meanwhile, only five climbers including a woman have taken permission to climb Mt Everest in the autumn season. Mostly, climbers in large number scale the world’s highest peak during the spring season.</span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Most of the climbers who took permission to climb the mountains are from the USA. A total of 33 climbers from the USA have taken permission to climb the peaks this season. Argentina ranks second with 16 climbers being issued climbing permits followed by Spain (12), China (11), India (11) and the UAE (10). </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">Similarly, climbers from Bangladesh, France, Japan, Germany, Iraq, Italy, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Costa Rica, Morocco, Poland, Canada and Australia have also been granted climbing permits. </span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif"">The number of tourists visiting Nepal has increased in recent days.</span></span></p> <p> </p> ', 'published' => true, 'created' => '2022-09-02', 'modified' => '2022-09-02', 'keywords' => '', 'description' => '', 'sortorder' => '15654', 'image' => '20220902100717_maxresdefault.jpg', 'article_date' => '2022-09-02 10:06:40', 'homepage' => false, 'breaking_news' => false, 'main_news' => true, 'in_scroller' => null, 'user_id' => '34' ) ) ) $current_user = null $logged_in = false $xml = falsesimplexml_load_file - [internal], line ?? include - APP/View/Elements/side_bar.ctp, line 133 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::_renderElement() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 1224 View::element() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 418 include - APP/View/Articles/index.ctp, line 157 View::_evaluate() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 971 View::_render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 933 View::render() - CORE/Cake/View/View.php, line 473 Controller::render() - CORE/Cake/Controller/Controller.php, line 968 Dispatcher::_invoke() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 200 Dispatcher::dispatch() - CORE/Cake/Routing/Dispatcher.php, line 167 [main] - APP/webroot/index.php, line 117
| Currency | Unit |
Buy | Sell |
| U.S. Dollar | 1 | 121.23 | 121.83 |
| European Euro | 1 | 131.65 | 132.31 |
| UK Pound Sterling | 1 | 142.47 | 143.18 |
| Swiss Franc | 1 | 124.29 | 124.90 |
| Australian Dollar | 1 | 71.69 | 72.05 |
| Canadian Dollar | 1 | 83.90 | 84.32 |
| Japanese Yen | 10 | 10.94 | 11.00 |
| Chinese Yuan | 1 | 17.17 | 17.26 |
| Saudi Arabian Riyal | 1 | 32.27 | 32.43 |
| UAE Dirham | 1 | 33.01 | 33.17 |
| Malaysian Ringgit | 1 | 27.36 | 27.50 |
| South Korean Won | 100 | 9.77 | 9.82 |
Update: 2020-03-25 | Source: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB)
| Fine Gold | 1 tola | 77000.00 |
| Tejabi Gold | 1 tola | 76700.00 |
| Silver | 1 tola | 720.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
Source: Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association
| Petrol | 1 Liter | 106.00 |
| Diesel | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| Kerosene | 1 Liter | 95.00 |
| LP Gas | 1 Cylinder | 1375.00 |
Update : 2020-03-25
