KATHMANDU, JANUARY 4

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has held discussions with Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel and Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari today.

The discussions focused on the present economic situation, problems seen in the banking sector and topics needing immediate reforms.

In the discussions held at the Prime Minister's residence at Baluwatar today, the PM showed his concern over the recent problems and challenges seen in the banking sector, the PM's private secretariat said. He suggested revising the monetary policy for reducing the interest rate and addressing the liquidity problem and also to take other necessary initiatives.

Likewise, Prime Minister Dahal urged seeking ways to minimize the impact on the people due to the challenges seen in the economy, stopping issuing loans in unproductive sectors and informing and making aware the people on the status of the economy.

The private sector has been calling on the government to immediately adopt ways of improvement citing that the nation's economy is in dire straits. The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), the Confederation of Nepalese Industries, Nepal Chamber of Commerce, among other private sector trade and business organisations had during meetings with the Prime Minister and Finance Minister calling for stabilizing the interest rate and increasing the capital expenditure.