Artistes felicitated

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 24: Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand has said that the lyricists, musicians and singers who were part of the songs declared best by BBC World Service have further extended the image of the nation.

Presenting letters of appreciation to them at a function organised by the Keshav-Sushma Bhajan Guthi here today, Prime Minister Chand said the selection of Nepal and its creations in the global list clarifies the richness of Nepali Culture.

Those felicitated on the occasion were lyricist Rajendra Rizal, musician Ram Thapa and singer Arun Thapa (posthumously) for "Rituharuma Timi Hariyali Basanta Hau……") and lyricist Chandani Shah (posthumously), Dipakjungam and Narayan Gopal (posthumously) for "Euta Manche Ko Mayale Kati……").

The song sang by late Arun Thapa featured seventh in the 10 tops songs at the international level in an electronic medium survey carried out by the BBC while the song sang by Narayan Gopal came out first among the top five in the country.

At the same function, a collection of songs by Situbhojpure entitled "Situka Swarharu" was also released.

Tanahu team

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 24: A delegation led by RPP Tanahu chairman Narendra Raj Wagle called on Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand and requested various develoment and construction works in the district.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister assured the delegation of whatever cooperation was possible.

KU results

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 24: the Kathmandu University has published the results of the B.E. Electrical and Electronics, B.E. Mechanical, B.E. Computer, B.Sc. Environmental Science, B.Pharm Pharmacy and B. Sc. Computer Science first year first semester examinations conducted under the school of Science/School of Engineering last month.

'Trade should get priority to alleviate poverty'

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 24: Agricultural growth alone will not alleviate poverty. Equal emphasis should be laid on trade and industrial development for sustainable economic growth, for which a proper environment is essential. The priority should be on creating employment within the country for sustainable economic development. Foreign employment is not sustainable.

The business community can play a vital role in creating adequate employment opportunities if there is a sound business environment, said participants at a programme "Poverty Alleviation: Role of Entrepreneurs" organised by the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) here today.

Speaking at the function, Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Dr. Shanker Sharma said that the business community should be proactive to strengthen backward linkages and forward linkages in order to promote trade and industry. Trade, as an engine of growth, should be given priority for poverty alleviation.

Referring to the 10th five-year Plan, Dr. Sharma said that the government has accorded top priority to reducing poverty by focusing on various areas relating to industry and trade. It is obvious that the private sector aims to maximize profit, but they should not be allowed to profiteer.

Former Vice Chairman of the NPC Dr. Mohan Man Sainju, presenting a paper on Poverty Alleviation and the Role of Business Community, said that poverty alleviation should not be viewed in isolation, but as an integrated concept.

Poverty alleviation is based on the concept of welfare, it is a distributive concept. Entrepreneurs, if they are properly mobilised, can make a significant contribution in poverty alleviation, he added.
Former member of the NPC Dr. Balgopal Vaidya said that agriculture should be given top priority for poverty alleviation. "It will be more sustainable. So should trade and industry," he added. If poverty goes up, trade and industry cannot perform satisfactorily. As a result, employment cannot be generated. We should, therefore, know our priority."

Koirala calls for unity of democratic forces

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BIRGUNJ, Jan. 24: President of the Nepali Congress and former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that everyone should joint hands and move ahead to eliminate the prevailing uncertainty, lawlessness and instability and defend the achievements of the People's Movement and the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990.

NC President Koirala was inaugurating the ninth general convention of the Nepal Students Union organised at the local Adarsha Stadium with the theme "the ninth general convention is for strong students movement for the protection of the people's rights and against the retrograde and violence."
He said that the rights vested in the people should be exercised to face the problems and the challenges in the country.

He emphasised the need for the development of the country through democratic system to build a new Nepal and called upon the democratic forces to unite in this regard. Stating that no one could snatch the power and rights of the people in this democratic age, he said that the movement now will be geared to build a new history.

General secretary of the Nepali Congress Susheel Koirala said that the Nepalese people committed to constitutional monarchy and multi-party democracy wanted to keep monarchy within the constitutional framework to make it dignified and respectable. NC central member and former deputy prime minister Ramchandra Paudel said that the Nepalese students always fighting for the sake of the national, nationalism and democracy should launch active movement against retrograde. NC spokesman Arjun Narsingh KC said that the NSU should move ahead effectively to defend the achievements of the People's Movement.

NSU president Bishwa Prakash Sharma, general secretary of Nepal Tarun Dal Govinda Bhattarai, president of Free Students Union Bishnu Panthi and a host of other speakers expressed their views at the programme.

Pak envoy, Gyawali discuss water resources

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 24: Pakistani Ambassador Zamir Akram today paid a courtesy call on Minister for Water Resources Deepak Gyawali at the latter's office.

On the occasion, discussions were held on matters of mutual relations. During the course of discussions, Minister Gyawali said that experts of Nepal could benefit from the experience gained by Pakistan from the Indus Valley Irrigation System which is the biggest of its kind in the world and the desire to share the experience of independent power producers of the two countries in power generation and the energy sector.

He proposed that programme of exchange of visits between the two countries should be organised.
Ambassador Akram expressed the view that the process of feasibility in this regard should be taken ahead.

Cases filed against firms over forex deflection

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KATHMANDU, Jan 24: The Department of Revenue Investigation has filed a case at Morang District Court against Mahendra Kumar Golchha of Hulash Ware Industries and Sharad Kumar Tibdewala of Tibdewala & Sons on the charge of importing goods worth Rs. 6.1 million without complying with the letters of credit (LCs) and deflecting foreign currency. It demanded a fine equal to the same amount.
Likewise, the department has filed a separate case at the Kathmandu district court against Mohan Kumar Agrawal, Shiva Kumar Adkiya and R. B. Mahato on charge of being involved in smuggling of foreign currencies through Tribhuvan International Airport, demanding a fine amounting Rs. 17.5 million and imprisonment to higher extent.

Necessary investigation is undergoing on Kanya Rashi Gurung of Lamjung District Nala VDC who had been arrested at Tribhuvan International Airport few weeks before while he was attempting to export 55,200 US dollars illegally.