Himal Press 
Prime Minister Balendra Shah in a discussion with lawmakers from Karnali Province. Photo: PM's Secretariat
KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Balendra Shah held discussions with members of the House of Representatives from Koshi Province and Karnali Province on Monday.
He met lawmakers from Koshi and Karnali separately at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar.
According to lawmakers, Prime Minister Shah sought suggestions on tasks that could be implemented immediately. Ramesh Malla, a Nepali Communist Party (NCP) lawmaker from Salyan, said Shah inquired about projects that could be carried out promptly in their constituencies. “Prime Minister Shah asked us about the work that can be immediately executed in our constituencies,” Malla told Himal Press over the phone. “The Prime Ministers told us that the government would give special emphasis on good governance this year.”
During the meeting, lawmakers from Karnali urged the Prime Minister not to discriminate against their province in budget allocation. In response, Shah assured that while Karnali would be given priority, the government would focus more on governance and education in the immediate term.
“Resources are limited, but Karnali will remain a priority,” Malla quoted the Prime Minister as saying. “In the first year, the government’s special focus will be on good governance.”
Lawmakers also urged the Prime Minister to convene a session of the House of Representatives to facilitate discussions. Malla said they requested Shah to create an environment for parliamentary deliberations by calling the House session.
They also drew the Prime Minister’s attention to the need for preparedness in disaster risk reduction as the monsoon season approaches.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shah held a similar meeting with lawmakers from Koshi Province. During that discussion as well, he sought information on constituency-level issues and immediate priorities, according to Deepak Kumar Sah, a Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker from Sunsari.
Sah added that the Prime Minister said the government’s focus in the immediate term would be on improving the quality of education and ensuring good governance.
