Minister Gurung vows comprehensive reforms in postal and prison systems

By Our Correspondent,Surkhet, May 13: Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, has expressed disappointment that despite Nepal's transition to a democratic republic, the nation's postal and prison setup have long been neglected. 

Inaugurating a newly constructed building of the Postal Directorate in Surkhet on Monday, Minister Gurung remarked that these essential services continue to operate under outdated laws from the Panchayat era, and genuine reform efforts have yet to take root.

“Even as the country embraced federal democratic republic system, the postal and prison sectors remain ignored. I have now initiated the process of reform,” he claimed. Emphasising his commitment, Gurung pledged to pursue systemic improvements for as long as he holds office.

He acknowledged that the inability to modernise postal services with emerging technologies has caused setbacks. To address this, the ministry is working on restructuring the sector, aligning it with digital advancements, and enhancing its revenue-generating capacity. 

According to the Minister, efforts are already underway to revise postal policies in order to bring about tangible improvements.

Minister Gurung also criticised the prevailing practice of launching development projects and establishing government offices without proper research and feasibility studies, resulting in misuse of public funds. To counter this, he advocated for legal reforms that mandate evidence-based planning and implementation.

Highlighting the low prioritisation of postal services in government agendas due to a lack of understanding of their significance, he assured that his ministry is actively drawing attention to this oversight.

Earlier in the day, Minister Gurung also inaugurated the Karnali Bureau of Nepal Television and launched news broadcasts in the Khas language through Radio Nepal's provincial service. He stressed that the federal government is committed to developing Karnali not just as a region that is heard about, but one that is visibly progressing through robust infrastructure.

“Karnali has long been known as a remote and underdeveloped area, but now, we will build it visibly stronger. The people will see the change they have long hoped for,” he said. He reiterated the federal government’s dedication to collaborating with provincial and local governments to prioritise Karnali's development.

Gurung further pledged the government’s active role in using media platforms to preserve languages and cultural heritage, thereby strengthening national unity. He praised public media institutions—including Radio Nepal, Nepal Television, Gorkhapatra, and the Rastriay Samachar Samiti (National News Agency)—for focusing on citizen-centric reporting and playing a crucial role in promoting good governance and prosperity.

Regarding the introduction of Khas-language news, the minister said it marks a significant step toward reinforcing Karnali’s linguistic identity, cultural recognition, and media accessibility. Karnali Province Chief Minister Yam Lal Kandel also addressed the event, emphasising that development and prosperity are shared responsibilities—not only of elected representatives and officials, but of all stakeholders.

CM Kandel stressed the need for balanced communication that highlights both the challenges and the vast potential of the Karnali region, adding that media outlets play a vital role in this effort.