Kathmandu: Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung, has emphasized the necessity of transforming Gorakhapatra Corporation into a public service publication (PSP) format. Speaking at an event commemorating the 125th anniversary of the Gorakhapatra publication and the 63rd anniversary of the Corporation, Minister Gurung highlighted the importance of updating the existing act to align Gorakhapatra with the current context.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Minister Gurung reflected on the challenges Gorakhapatra has faced throughout its history, from the Rana regime to monarchy and the Panchayat system. He emphasized the need for the publication house to produce content that resonates with the public in the present democratic and federal governance structure.
Minister Gurung also committed to completing the construction of a well-appointed building for the corporation, drafting a new Act, and establishing bye-laws for employee management. The ministry plans to build the Telecom Authority of Nepal’s headquarters, revise outdated Acts and laws, and introduce an ‘AI policy.’ Furthermore, he announced that the 5G Network would be launched within the current year.
Chairman of Gorakhapatra Corporation, Bishnu Prasad Subedi, requested Minister Gurung to allocate funds in the upcoming budget for the construction of the Corporation’s building, emphasizing the urgent need for a well-equipped facility. General Manager Lal Bahadur Airi noted efforts to modernize the editorial content of Gorakhapatra, with a focus on inclusivity in language and content selection.
Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Chairperson, Nirmala Sharma, underscored the importance of cooperation to uphold social media as a reputable profession, pointing out that the misuse of social media has recently led to distrust in professional journalism.