Kathmandu: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Jagadish Kharel, has called upon the office-bearers of the Press Council Nepal (PCN) to ensure their operations reflect the Council’s status as an empowered and autonomous body. At a programme organized by the PCN, Minister Kharel emphasized the importance of undertaking initiatives that deliver tangible results, particularly with the upcoming election to the House of Representatives and the increasing activities of political parties.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Minister Kharel highlighted the necessity for the Council to seriously address the issue of unauthorized social platforms by implementing effective monitoring and regulatory measures. He underscored the state’s responsibility towards media outlets listed in the Press Council Nepal, advocating for the recognition of the Council as a judicial authority in matters concerning mass media.
Minister Kharel further expressed concerns over the misuse of social media platforms to spread false information and conduct attacks, suggesting that all state mechanisms should be attentive to such issues. He proposed the formation of a taskforce by the Press Council Nepal to assess the required human resources and equipment and to convey awareness messages related to the regulation of social platforms.
Emphasizing the importance of stringent monitoring for enforcing the code of conduct during the election preparations, Minister Kharel reiterated the Council’s autonomy, stating that the Ministry does not interfere with its operations. He assured that the Ministry is prepared to make policy-level decisions and extend support as necessary.
In addition, Ministry Secretary Radhika Aryal confirmed the Ministry’s commitment to providing comprehensive support to the Press Council Nepal. Council Member Bal Krishna Adhikari, who chaired the programme, mentioned the challenges faced by the Council due to insufficient technical human resources and budget. Earlier, Chief Executive Officer of the Council, Jhabindra Bhusal, briefed the Minister about the Council’s overall situation and activities.