KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal said that national consensus was essential to address national issues.

During a meeting with a delegation of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) at his official residence in Baluwatar on Tuesday, Prime Minister Dahal emphasised national consensus to formulate new laws, expedite post-quake reconstruction works, and implement as well as amend the Constitution.

Prime Minister Dahal expected a positive role from media even to forge national consensus.

He added that the media sector had played a positive and progressive role in various political movements in the past.

The Prime Minister further said that concluding the remaining tasks of the peace process and implementing the Constitution were the need of the hour.

Prime Minister, also the chairman of CPN Maoist Centre, said he was always in favour of the rights of working journalists.

On the occasion, FNJ President Dr Mahendra Bista reminded the Prime Minister of the influential role played by the media in institutionalising important achievements of the big political changes occurred in the country.