Economic agendas overshadowed by constitution writing process: Mahat

KATHMANDU, Aug 28:

Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat has said that country's economic agendas have been overshadowed by constitution writing process and political activities in different parts of the country.

Speaking at the 16th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Society of Economic Journalists Nepal (Sejon) in Kathmandu on Friday, Mahat lamented that majority of forces at present were concentrated on federalism, putting vital economic agendas on the back burner.

"More than 90 percent of discussions in parliament is related to federalism and constitution writing process," Mahat said, adding, "While On doing so, we have been leaving economic agendas behind."

Stating that the focus of all stakeholders should be on making Nepal prosperous economically, Mahat said: "We all are now focused on our individual rights, forgetting our duties." He also said that the country now has to focus on ways to increase foreign investment, industrial production, and exports.

On the occasion, Mahat also thanked Sejon and economic journalists for their continuous efforts to highlight and bring economic agendas forward.

Prime Minister's Press Advisor Prateek Pradhan, who is also the founding president of Sejon, said Sejon was formed with the aim to discourage political issues and highlight economic issues in Nepali media. "Despite our untiring efforts, economic issues have not got due priority in Nepali media. Sejon has to play crucial role to highlight economic issues," he added.

AWASTHI NEW SEJON PRESIDENT

Meanwhile, Sejon has elected a new executive committee with Gokarna Awasthi of Kantipur daily as president for a two-year term.

Similarly, Puspha Raj Acharya (The Himalayan Times), Modnath Dhakal (The Rising Nepal), Ram Raja Shrestha (BizKhabar.Com) and Bhim Gautam (Rajdhani) have been elected vice president, general secretary, secretary and treasurer, respectively.

Likewise, Saraswati Dhakal (Karobar), Anil Pariyar (Radio Kantipur), Bhagwat Bhattarai (Mountain TV) Sabin Mishra (BizMandu.Com) and Sujan Oli (Nagarik) have been elected members in the executive committee.

Source: Republica