Himal Press 
POKHARA: Gandaki Province Government has reduced the number of ministries to seven from 12.
The cabinet meeting held on Monday finalized the name of seven ministries by merging existing ministries. Earlier, leaders of three parties represented in the government had finalized the number and name of ministries.
As per the decision taken on Monday, the province government will have seven ministries – Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers; internal affairs and law, economic affairs; physical infrastructure development; social development and health; industry, tourism, forest and environment; and agriculture and water resources ministries.
Now that the number of ministries has been finalized, Chief Minister Khagaraj Adhikari is preparing to give full shape to his cabinet. Sources say the province cabinet will be expanded by Tuesday.
Existing laws allow the province government to have a maximum of 12 ministries. The province’s first Chief Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung had increased the number of ministries to 11 from seven.
Later, the coalition government led by Krishna Chandra Nepali Pokharel had increased the number of ministries to 12.
