Kathmandu, November 22

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today directed ministers and civil servants to change their working style.

Oli directed them not to waste time in policy meetings and consultations, and prioritise development works. “You need to deeply study a subject matter and be clear about it before taking experts’ suggestions. Things will not move ahead if you start taking experts’ suggestion on everything,” he said on the second day of the first-trimester review of implementation of the government’s policies and programmes and the annual budget.

Oli also directed government employees to adopt austerity and not to take allowances for meetings held during office hours creating additional burden on state coffers. He also enquired about reasons for losses being faced by Nepal Airlines Corporation and its preparations for optimal utilisation of recently-acquired wide-body aircraft.

The prime minister told the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation to promote agriculture forestry and plant fruit saplings rather than unproductive trees. He also stressed promotion of agriculture cooperatives to boost productivity and employment creation through the modernisation of agriculture, industry, tourism and service sectors.

PM Oli directed civil servants to address the lack of coordination seen among federal, provincial and local governments, and remove duplication of development plans.

Secretary Gajendra Thakaur of the Ministry of Water Supply and Sanitation; Secretary Mohan Krishna Sapkota of

the Ministry of Youth and Sports; and Secretary Khagaraj Baral of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology presented progress report of their respective ministries in today’s meeting.

Secretary Gopinath Mainali of the Ministry of Land Management and Cooperatives; Secretary Mahesh Dahal of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security; Secretary Bishwanath Oli of the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation; and Secretary Krishna Prasad Devkota of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation also presented the progress report of their respective ministries. Other ministries will submit their progress reports on Saturday.