Nepal

Kathmandu, September 18

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today laid the foundation stone for the construction of Parliament building on premises of Singha Durbar during a function.

Estimated cost of the state-of-the-art building stands at Rs 5.26 billion. The main and annex buildings, which are spread over 173 ropani land, will be built in Putali Bagincha provided by Nepali Army.

The building will be disabled friendly, and will house the House of Representatives, National Assembly, VVIP lounges, Parliamentary committees, office of parliamentary parties, Parliament Secretariat, canteens and parking lots.

The government has set a target of three years to complete the construction of the building. Department of Urban Development and Building Construction, which is tasked with the construction work, said the earthquake-resistant building would be constructed in a manner to reflect typical Nepali architecture and would not exceed five storeys.

The Parliament building premises will also have a garden, water fountain, open space and disaster response facilities.

Prime Minister Oli had announced the construction of the Parliament building, on the first day of his appointment to the post for the second time, to maintain the dignity of the legislature and save millions of rupees the government has been spending on rent.

The government has been paying around Rs 150 million in rent for the International Convention Centre, annually. New Baneshwor-based ICC is being used asthe Parliament building after the 2008 Constituent Assembly elections. Until then, the Rana era Gallery Baithak building in Singha Durbar was used asthe Parliament building. It will be converted into a museum.

• ‘Govt will act like tigress for democracy&

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Kathmandu, September 18

Minister of Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali is leaving for New York on September 21, leading a Nepali delegation to the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

The foreign minister will be accompanied by his spouse, Saraswoti Gyawali.

The delegation will comprise senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador of Nepal to the United States of America Arjun Kumar Karki, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations Amrit Bahadur Rai and other officials from the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations in New York.

The General Debate of the UNGA will begin on September 24 under the theme ‘Galvanising Multilateral Efforts for Poverty Eradication, Quality Education, Climate Action and Inclusion.& Minister Gyawlai will address the United Nations General Assembly on September 30. On September 26, Minister Gyawali will chair the Informal Session of the SAARC Council of Ministers, according to a press release issued today by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On the margins of the UNGA, Minister Gyawali will participate in the Climate Action Summit, United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, and the United Nations High-level Dialogue on Financing for Development.

While in New York, Minister Gyawali will address separate ministerial meetings of the Non-Aligned Movement, G77 and China, Least Developed Countries, and Land-locked Developing Countries. He will represent also Nepal at the Ministerial Meeting of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue.

The foreign minister will also address the 10th Ministerial Meeting of the United Nations Group of Friends of Mediation and High-level Dialogue on Peace Operations.

He will participate in the high-level commemorative event convened by the president of the General Assembly to mark the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, stated the press release. Minister Gyawali will attend the reception to be hosted by the US president on September 24 evening, and will join the State Luncheon hosted by the UN secretary general the same day.

On the sidelines of the UNGA, Minister Gyawali will engage in bilateral meetings with his counterparts from various countries.

Minister Gyawali is also scheduled to interact with Nepali Diaspora in New York on the 26th of September, and attend an interactive meeting on brain gain with the Nepali diaspora community on the 29th of September in Chicago. He will return from New York on October 1.

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