KATHMANDU: A Cabinet meeting of the Council of Ministers that took place today at the official residence of the Prime Minister in Baluwatar has given shape to the National Planning Commission (NPC) by appointing its Vice-Chairman along with other members.

The Cabinet appointed Pushpa Kandel as the Vice-Chairman of NPC. The meeting further appointed Krishna Prasad Oli, Usha Jha, Dil Bahadur Gurung, Sushil Bhatta, Min Bahadur Shahi and Ram Kumar Phuyal as members of the Commission, State Minister for Communication and Information Technology Gokul Prasad Banskota informed THT Online.

Among other agendas discussed in the meeting, the government decided to restrict strikes in essential services for public welfare. Minister Banskota said that a decision has been made to publish information regarding this provision in the Nepal Gazette.

Likewise, Minister Banskota informed that a high level facilitation committee would be set up under the coordination of Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari for the construction of international airport at Nijgadh Municipality of Bara district.

It was also decided at the meeting to provide a financial grant of Rs 100 million to Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology for import of technology to produce eye lens.

The Cabinet has also approved the directive for regulating foreign visits of government and high level officials, 2075. Similarly, the meeting permitted to present the bill related to amendment of the Social Security Act 2046 BS to the Parliament.

Decision was also taken to issue directive for registering public transport under the Company Act to bring an end to syndicate system that was prevalent in the public transport sector.

Likewise, the Cabinet meeting has recommended some bills — related to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons, the National Assembly Member Election and the Medical Education — to the President for issuing ordinance.