KATHMANDU, June 22: Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun has said country’s dependence on import of agricultural products has reached the highest point.

While addressing the eighth Food Conference organized by Nepal Food Scientist and Technologist Association in the capital today, the vice president said Nepal’s abundant possibility for agricultural development remained unutilized, thus increasing country’s agricultural dependence (on foreign countries).

Also speaking on the occasion, Minister of State for Agriculture, Ram Kumari Chaudhary said the agriculture was the priority of the state.

“The constitution has guaranteed citizen’s right to food,” she said, pledging to take various measures to ensure food security.

In the two-day program, over 60 working papers on different topics will be presented.

The government has set a target of doubling the agricultural production within the next five years through sustainable development of the agro sector. Nepal tentatively produces 5.2 million metric tons of rice, 2.1 million metric tons of corn and 900,000 metric tons of wheat in a year.

Nepal spends over Rs 500 million in the import of food per month while its current trade deficit with India is over 600 billion.

KATHMANDU, April 30: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has extended best wishes to all those who believe in the message of peace, non-violence, harmony and co-existence of Gautam Buddha including to the Buddhist community, on the occasion of the 2562nd Buddha Jayanti.

In a message of best wishes today, President Bhandari said if we internalize the Buddhist philosophy then internal peace and fraternity are unavoidable, while it will also facilitate unity, tolerance and goodwill among all those oriented towards social development and lasting peace.

She has also wished that this holy day inspire the entire human kind to follow Buddha’s principles mutual goodwill, harmony and non-violence.

Meanwhile, on the occasion of Ubhauli festival, President Bhandari has extended best wishes for the happiness, peace and prosperity to all people of Kirant community in and out of the country.

Similarly, Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun also extended best wishes to Nepalis, who are in and outside the country, on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti and Ubhauli festival.

In his message of best wishes on the occasion, Vice-President Pun said that the importance and relevance of Buddha’s messages of peace and non-violence have further increased in the present world, adding that fraternity, goodwill and sustainable peace would be established in the country and the entire world if the messages of the Buddha were internalized.

Meanwhile, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that peace was the first priority of the party.

In his message on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti, Deuba has wished for emancipation of the country people from all sorts of injustice and suppression and peace would prevail in the country by following the teachings of the Lord Buddha.

Deuba has said that the activities of violence, murder, abduction and anti-human rights activities should be stopped forever.

Saying the constitution has been successfully implemented after holding all tiers of elections per the constitution and the country has got an outlet from political transition, he said, “Economic prosperity and peace are the wish of the Nepali people after this historical achievement. Overall development of the country is not possible without sustainable peace.” RSS

KATHMANDU, March 20: Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun has expressed his hope that Nepal, being the closest neighbor to China, would become able to take more benefits from the One Belt One Road (OBOR) Initiative, introduced by China.

Receiving felicitations conveyed by his Chinese counterpart Wang Qishan from Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, Yu Hong, on Tuesday, for his re-election on the post of Vice President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, Vice President Pun hoped to get more help and support from China to Nepal’s development endeavors.

On the occasion, he said that Nepali people were eagerly waiting for a moment to welcome the Chinese President to their home.

The Chinese Ambassador reached the Office of Vice President to convey the felicitations extended by the Chinese Vice President, confirmed Vice President’s press coordinator Manoj Gharti.

Expressing happiness over the arrival of a ‘new era’ of development in Nepal, the Chinese Ambassador made it clear that China would remain on forefront in terms of assisting collective endevours meant for Nepal’s development.

Secretary at the Office of Vice President, Lal Shankar Ghimire, and officials from the Chinese Embassy were also present on the occasion.

KATHMANDU, March 18: Incumbent Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun has been re-elected to the post unopposed for the second term. He was the sole candidate for the post, according to Election Officer Teel Prasad Shrestha.

His candidacy was proposed by Rekha Sharma, Subash Nembang, Parsuram Meghi Gurung, Pampha Bhusal and Bhanubhakta Dhakal and backed by Jaypuri Gharti, Rajendra Gautam, Ram Narayan Bidari, Onsari Gharti and Dev Gurung. RSS

KATHMANDU, March 1: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has extended her best wishes to all Nepali people on the occasion of Fagu Poornima-2074 BS.

In a message of best wishes delivered today, President Bhandari said that the festival has helped in maintaining social harmony among all Nepali people and keeping the national unity

While noting that all Nepali people celebrate this festival with fanfare in the country which is the epitome of ethnic, religious and cultural diversity, President Bhandari wished that the great festival may bring happiness and excitement among all the Nepali people.

The President also wished that the festival may encourage us to keep the unity, harmony and tolerance among all Nepali people intact.

Meanwhile, delivering the Holi greetings, Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun said that the festival would enhance mutual harmony, tolerance and fraternity by uniting the Nepali society and strengthen nationalism.

Vice-President Pun expressed his confidence that the festival would inspire all Nepali people to be a part of the mega campaign of building prosperous country with the socio-economic transformation of each Nepali people. RSS

KATHMANDU, Jan 15: Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun has said that the country should focus its attention in building a prosperous Nepal along with sustainable economic development.

At the ‘Cultural programme-2074’ organized by Nepal Magar Association at Bhrikutimandap on Monday on the occasion of Maghe Sakranti, Vice-President Pun said that the country would be headed towards economic prosperity by implementing the constitution.

Saying that there are some dissatisfactions regarding constitution, he expressed the view that political parties are involved to address such dissatisfactions.

Vice-President Pun said, “I am confident that they would give an outlet to the country after reaching to a positive conclusion soon.”

He underscored the need of a strong national unity for building a prosperous Nepal, saying the national unity could be strong only from unity among all nationalities, and all communities.

Saying that Nepal is a naturally beautiful country in the world, he said people from different nationalities, culture, religion and communities have made it more beautiful.

VP Pun said the Magar community has a significant role in building a prosperous Nepal and for national unity, adding the Magar community always played a leading role in any movements of the country.

Different cultural performances were performed on the occasion. RSS

KATHMANDU, Jan 7: Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun has urged the government to help the people affected by the cold wave in Tarai.

Saying people of Tarai area are facing problems due to the cold wave, Vice-President Pun asked the government to help the victims by sending health workers immediately.

At a program organized by Kathmandu Metropolitan City in the capital on Sunday, he said that providing quality service to the people was the responsibility of the government.

The Vice-President said that although the constitution has guaranteed the right to easy and smooth service to all citizens, it has not been implemented yet. “Most of the people have been suffering from diseases due to lack of awareness. So it is necessary to create awareness among them by reaching their door steps,” he said.
Vice-President Pun said that although the government’s goal of making the country fully immunized by 2017 was not fulfilled, the child mortality rate has decreased in recent period.

Similarly, Health Minister Deepak Bohara said that getting immunization service was rights of all children.

KMC Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya said that we all should be aware to receive 16 vaccines against 11 diseases which are provided for free by the government.
On the occasion, 500 health volunteers of 32 wards of KMC and 150 health workers were honored. RSS

KATHMANDU, Oct 18: Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun has said that doors to economic prosperity should be opened by holding elections of House of Representatives and State Assemblies.

Inaugurating the fourth anniversary of Gantabyanepalnews.com, Vice-President Pun said that people have got the constitution as aspired by them after seven-decade long struggle.

He also pointed out that entrepreneurs should be serious in development of tourism sector as tourism is the first door to economic prosperity.

Similarly, Nepali Congress Nuwakot President Jagadishwor Narsingh KC said that there would be development in the county if polarization between leftist and democratic forces can exist for long.

On the occasion, national coordinator of the Nepal National Tourism Entrepreneurs’ Association Nawaraj Dahal and Chairperson of the Gantabya Nepal Group Shiva Adhikari stressed the need for the government and private sector to express collective solidarity for promoting and developing tourism sector.

At the event, Chairperson of the PATA Nepal Chapter Suman Pandey was awarded the ‘Tourism Life Time Achievement Award-2017’.

Likewise, tourism entrepreneurs Lok Prasad Dahal, Anil Lama, Chiranjibi Bhatta, Rajendra Adhikari, Gita Gurung, Rajan Thapa, Motiram Dhakal and social worker Ram Hari Adhikari were honoured.

Journalists Raju Silwal of Nepal Television, Sangam Baniya of News 24 Television, Prakash Khaling of Shikhar Post Media, Nabin Kafle of Point Media and photo journalist Janardan Aryal were also felicitated on the occasion. RSS

KATHMANDU, Aug 24: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has expressed her best wishes to all Nepalis living at home and abroad on the occasion of the great festival of Nepali women, Haritalika Teej.

In a message today, President Bhandari said that the Constitution of Nepal has ensured rights of women along with the political changes in the country adding that the recently concluded local level polls and upcoming ones have helped establish the women leaders in the country.

Meanwhile, Vice-President Nanda Bahadur Pun ‘Pasang’ has also expressed best wishes to all Nepalis women at home and abroad for their happiness, peace, prosperity and good health on the occasion of the Haritalika Teej.

In a message today, the Vice President has urged all the women to take pride in the achievements received from the revolutionary struggles in the country. In his message, Vice President Pun has said that the Nepalis women have made a great contribution in the nation building and make Nepal familiar to the world. He has also wished for promotion of mutual goodwill, tolerance and fraternity as well as for a creative and wonderful Teej festival. RSS