KATHMANDU: Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal has said the government is committed to effectively utilizing Nepal’s international relations to promote national development, economic prosperity, and national interests.
Speaking at a program organized by the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Tokha Municipality-9 on Thursday morning, Khanal said Nepal’s international relations are based on diplomatic, economic, cultural, and strategic engagement with different countries and international organizations.
He stated that Nepal has continued to follow an independent, non-aligned, and balanced foreign policy guided by the Constitution of Nepal, the United Nations Charter, the principles of Panchsheel, and the values of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Minister Khanal said Nepal’s foreign policy is centered on balanced and friendly international relations and multilateral cooperation, with the main goals being the protection of national interests, economic development, peace, and stronger international partnerships.
Highlighting reforms at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Khanal said efforts are underway to end bureaucratic delays and improve public service delivery.
“We have significantly simplified the passport distribution process. Earlier, passports used to take weeks, but now they can be delivered within two to three days of application, and in some cases even the next day,” he said.
The minister also announced the launch of the “MOFA Mitra” mobile application aimed at addressing problems faced by Nepalis abroad.
According to him, Nepalis stranded or facing difficulties overseas can now directly register complaints through the app, with monitoring being conducted even at the ministerial level.
Khanal further said the government has been working in line with the “100-point commitment document” issued after the elections, adding that investigations into the assets of individuals who held major public offices after 2006 and reopening of old corruption files have already begun.
He said the number of ministries had been reduced to control unnecessary state expenditure.
Expressing concern over declining groundwater levels in the Gongabu area, Khanal said coordination was underway with local governments for better water management in the Shivapuri watershed region.
The minister also said construction work on the expansion of the Ring Road would move ahead after Nepal and China finalized an agreement on the project.
He added that immediate coordination with traffic police would begin to address unmanaged parking problems in the Gongabu area.
Ward Chairperson of Tokha Municipality-9, Ram Bhakta Ghimire, said efforts were ongoing in coordination with the federal government to resolve problems seen in the Gongabu-Tokha area.
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