Kathmandu, November 14:

Dr Yadav Prasad Pant, former finance minister and renowned economist pas-sed away here today at the age of 82. He was undergoing treatment at Bumrungrad Hospital in Thailand.

Dr Pant is the first Nepali to be awarded the Doctorate in Economics in 1952 and the Doctorate in Literature in Economics in 1976. He has held several positions in different national and international organisations including senior economist at UN ESCAP (Bangkok), finance and planning secretary, senior member of NPC, governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank, Royal Nepalese ambassador to Japan, chairman of Economic Commission and minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Finance and Water resources.

He also served as the chairman of several government-owned corporations, including NIDC, National Trading Ltd, RNAC and NOC. He was the visiting professor in a number of institutes like UN Institute Bangkok, Institute of International Studies, Tokyo and Korean Development Institute, Seoul.

He served as the vice-president World Federation of United Nation Association in 1991-1999. Dr Pant was district governor of Lions Clubs International, District 325 – B. He was also Excom member of the world Federation of the United Nation Association, Geneva, Founder president of both the Nepal-Japan Friendship and Cultural Association, and Nepal – Scandinavian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He has authored more than two dozen books including ‘Problems in Fiscal and Monetary Policy’, ‘Trade and Co-operation in South Asia’ and ‘Some aspect of Economical Planning’ and has contributed to various journals.

Dr Pant — involved in various social activities — was decorated with the highest de-corations by the government and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Emperor of Japan and president of Republic of Korea.

He is survived by his wife Rama Devi Pant and three sons Dr Girish Pant, Dr Bhuwanesh Pant and Radhesh Pant (managing director of Bank of Kathmandu and president of Nepal Bankers’ Association) and a daughter Meera Arjyal.