KATHMANDU: Minister for Population and Environment Lalbabu Pandit has stated that the Cabinet will be expanded in a day or two with the participation of Federal Socialist Forum Nepal (FSFN) and Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN).

In an interaction programme organised by Reporters Club on Tuesday, Minister Pandit said that the Cabinet would take full shape in a few days, within a week's time at the latest.

Minister Pandit informed that discussions are going on to include both FSFN and RJPN in the government. In the same context, he also added that consensus has already been reached on majority of the issues with both the parties, while agreements on smaller issues are remaining.

He said that the cabinet expansion has also been affected due to the amalgamation and management of various ministries. “30 ministries have been reduced to 17 ministries, and management of various departments and units is ongoing.”

Furthermore. Minister Pandit has asked the main opposition, the Nepali Congress, to join the government stating that to take the country in the path of development and good governance, all the parties must co-work in the government.

He urged former Prime Minister and NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba to send in names for the new government, adding that opposition is not required in the present context. He also said that they have done their homework for the government formation with the intention of including the NC in the government.

On a different note, Minister Pandit also added that he is making efforts to remove pollution from the major cities of the country.

Saying that the environment of Kathmandu — which has deteriorated over a period of many years — cannot be corrected overnight, he assured that work has begun to make Kathmandu and other major cities of the country mask-free within a year.