Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The government has appointed Umesh Shrestha as the chairperson of Press Council Nepal and Arjun Ghimire as the chairperson of the Nepal Telecommunications Authority (NTA).
A cabinet meeting held on July 8 made the decision.
Minister for Information and Communication Dr Bikram Timilsina handed over appointment letters to Shrestha and Ghimire on Monday.
Speaking on the occasion, Timilsina said both officials had been selected through a competitive process. He expressed confidence that they would discharge their responsibilities fairly, impartially and effectively.
He added that the Press Council Nepal had a vital role in promoting responsible, credible and effective journalism, particularly at a time when misinformation and disinformation are posing significant challenges.
Shrestha pledged to modernize the legal framework governing the Press Council Nepal, strengthen self-regulation in journalism through effective implementation of the journalists’ code of ethics, and serve as a bridge between the government and the media while safeguarding press freedom.
Similarly, Timilsina also instructed Ghimire to focus on addressing challenges in the telecommunications sector, improve service quality, and prepare short-, medium- and long-term plans for the telecom regulator.
Ghimire vowed to address longstanding problems in the telecommunications sector, improve governance and service delivery, and build a more accountable, people-centric telecommunications system within the existing legal and policy framework.
