Expedite arrears recovery and audit soon, Communication Minister tells Govt media

Kathmandu, May 26: Minister for Information and Communication Dr Bikram Timilsina has directed the government-run media agencies to complete the annual audit as soon as possible and to expedite the process of recovering long-overdue arrears.

During a discussion held with the heads of the agencies at the ministry today, Communication Minister Dr Timilsina directed them to prioritize the pending work of audit and arrears management.

According to information shared at the meeting, the audit work of Gorkhapatra Corporation and Public Service Broadcasting Nepal has not yet been completed since the fiscal year 2079/80. Expressing concern over it, Minister Timilsina directed the heads of the concerned agencies to immediately proceed with the stalled audit and complete it within the stipulated time.

He said that delay in auditing weakens institutional transparency, raises questions about economic activities, and affects trust in public institutions.

The Communication Minister also directed the head of agencies to formulate a clear action plan for the recovery of outstanding payments, initiate legal proceedings if necessary, and conduct regular monitoring. 

As informed during the discussion, about Rs 350 million of the Public Service Broadcasting Corporation, about Rs 410 million of the Gorkhapatra Corporation, and about Rs 10 million of the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) are yet to be recovered. The amount is yet to be recovered from various government bodies, advertising agencies, advertiser organizations, and service users.

Dr Timilsina also emphasized the need to develop a system to ensure timely payment by forging a contract with service recipients and making advertisement publication, and broadcasting processes digital and transparent.

Similarly, he pointed out the need for government media organizations to strengthen their credibility and financial base amid market competition, the expansion of digital media, and the influence of private media. (RSS)