Media Council Bill tabled in House

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Feb. 12: In Tuesday’s session of the House of Representatives (HoR), several key issues were raised, highlighting the ongoing political and economic challenges. 

The Export-Import (Regulation) Bill, 2024, was presented by Industry, Commerce, and Supplies Minister Damodar Bhandari. The Bill aims to streamline and regulate export and import activities, ensuring greater transparency and efficiency in the sector. Minister Bhandari highlighted the need for modernised laws to align with new foreign trade practices, aiming to boost Nepal’s economic development by promoting import substitution and export enhancement.

The session also saw significant debate on issues of corruption, governance, and national development. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle expressed concerns about the ongoing delay in addressing long-standing national projects, including the Postal Highway (Hulaki Rajmarga) and the Budhigandaki Hydropower Project. Parliamentarians called for swift action to resolve these delays and ensure that critical infrastructure is completed without further hindrances.

A recurring theme in the discussions was the call for accountability. Several lawmakers highlighted the need for investigations into past corruption scandals, calling for the establishment of a powerful commission to investigate these issues. There were also demands for faster implementation of laws, particularly in areas of social welfare and job creation.

The growing challenge of youth migration for better job opportunities abroad was another point of contention. Lawmakers stressed the importance of creating local employment opportunities, especially in rural areas, to curb the increasing trend of labour migration.

Additionally, the Media Council Bill, 2023, aimed at promoting a free and accountable press, was tabled in the House. The Bill seeks to establish a self-regulatory media body to foster responsible journalism while safeguarding press freedom.

During the session, opposition parties, including the CPN (Maoist Centre) and the Rastriya Swatantra Party, voiced strong objections to the Speaker’s decisions, particularly regarding the management of time and the handling of discussions. The opposition raised concerns about the fairness of allowing government lawmakers to speak while the opposition was denied the same opportunity. 

They accused the Speaker of not adhering to the proper procedures and of favouring the ruling party. This led to a brief disruption of the session, with the opposition demanding that the Speaker make necessary adjustments to ensure a fair and transparent process. Speaker, Devraj Ghimire, responded by promising to review the matter and take appropriate action after further study.

The next meeting of the House of Representative will take place on February 16 at 1 PM.

Communications Minister vows to pass Bill on Social Media Regulations    

Meanwhile RSS adds: Minister for Communications and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung has expressed his firm determination to pass the Bill on Social Media Regulations from the parliament.

Saying that though there were some criticisms on the Bill from the undemocratic group, Minister Gurung said the Bill was needed as it is aimed at regulating the social media to maintain social goodwill and building a civilized society.

At a national workshop organised on Tuesday by Nepal Telecommunications Authority on the occasion of Safer Internet Day 2025, the government spokesperson said that attempts to destabilize social harmony by the misuse of social media should be curbed. For this, the Bill was required, he argued.

Minister Gurung made it clear that regulations of social media is not to shut it down or control it rather it is creating awareness to use it in a civilized way. The government is planning to pass the bill, which is under discussions, from the federal parliament at any cost.

Likewise, Communications Minister Gurung shared that his Ministry was doing homework to flourish IT-related industries, including preparing for the revision of some old Acts and bringing AI Policy and Cyber Security Policy.