PM 's Turkmenistan visit from Aug 3 to 8 for LLDC conference

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu,Aug,1: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli is scheduled to visit Turkmenistan from August 3 to August 8.

Prime Minister Oli is making the visit to participate in the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3). Announcing the decisions of the Cabinet meeting held on July 28, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung said that the government has decided to approve the visit and form a Nepali delegation under the Prime Minister’s leadership.

The meeting also decided to accept a grant of 2.8 billion Japanese Yen from the Government of Japan for emergency restoration of BP Highway, which was damaged by flooding last year.

In September–October 2024, a flood damaged a 25-kilometre section of the BP Highway, and contract agreements have already been signed to begin repair works. The plan is to construct a two-lane road along the 30.5 km stretch from Bhakundebesi to Nepalthok, which was damaged by the flood. Currently, the project has been divided into three packages, two on the Kavre side and one on the Sindhuli side and contracts have been signed accordingly.

According to the Department of Roads, both contracts were signed in June–July 2025, and the work must be completed within two years from the contract date. Out of the total stretch, 5 kilometres are being handled by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), so the Department had only called for tenders for the remaining sections.

Later, JICA agreed to construct a 3.2-kilometre section from Pipley to Barkhekhola. The final survey of this section is currently underway through JICA. This portion of the road is being built with a grant from the Government of Japan.

Additionally, the Cabinet approved a concessional loan of approximately Rs. 18.92 billion from the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group for the third phase of the Rani Jamara Irrigation Project.

The Cabinet has promoted Bimal Paudel, Registrar of the Supreme Court, to the post of Chief Registrar, based on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission.

Likewise, Dhurba Raj Bhattarai of Tanahun has been appointed as the Registrar of the Nepal Engineering Council, and Dr. Ujjjwal Chalise of Kaski has been appointed as the Executive Director of the Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital Development Committee.

The Cabinet has also formed a task force led by Ramu Prasad Dotel to submit a report with recommendations for standardising the salaries and benefits of officials and staff in various state-funded institutions, boards, committees, and public organisations. Members of the task force include Ramesh Prasad Siwakoti and Chandi Prasad Ghimire.

Minister Gurung, who is also the government spokesperson, also said that the government has declared the Tarai-Madhes region as a drought-affected area and will make necessary arrangements, including providing relief to farmers affected by the lack of rainfall.

The meeting has also approved the visit of Minister for Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Deepak Khadka to Paris to take part in the International Forum on Pumped Storage Hydropower to be held from September 8 to 10.

Speaking at the press conference, Minister Gurung said that there is a possibility of a Cabinet reshuffle. Noting that the Cabinet has not been changed for a long time, he mentioned that a reshuffle could take place if an agreement is reached among the ruling parties.

Minister Gurung said, “Normally, Cabinet reshuffles happen every 2–3 months in our country, but it hasn't happened here for 13 months. So, there is widespread interest about it happening now, which is not unusual.”

He clarified that a Cabinet reshuffle would take place if an agreement is reached within the political mechanism involving the CPN (UML) and the Nepali Congress.